curvimeter

Map measure of the month: Aristo 1323 Fächermaßstab

The handy Aristo 1323 fan scale can be used for many types of measurement, including maps. Sold for over half a century, it is still produced today in almost unaltered form.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Henri Burnat No. 61 TP ‘Special Grand Modèle’

The model 61 measure from Henri Burnat has heft and balance. Not only is it solidly made and accurate, but has also squeezed in a surprising amount of measuring capability.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Krasnogorsk Mechanical Works curvimeter

During World War II many a Russian officer would have been issued one of these map measures. Made at Krasnogorskiy Mechanicheskiy Zavod, production of the KMZ curvimeter continued into the Cold War era with little change in design

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Sakurai two-sided curvimeter

This Japanese made curvimeter provides greater capability than their simpler one-sided instrument. The 'kilby-meter' demonstrates good design, coupled with immaculate manufacture.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Frederick Post model 1368

"It is of particular value to motorists, cyclists, hikers, etc. and also useful to architects, surveyors, schools and offices" Frederick Post Company

map measurer

Map Measure of the Month: The Action Line key tag #199

This month's measure is an advertising or promotional keychain with additional functionally, supplied by The Action Line. It is a cheaply made item printed with a company name who would have handed one out as a 'thank you' for custom, or as an inexpensive advertisement gifted by salesmen to clients.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Lutz metric and imperial

This month's measure was imported into the US by the Lutz Company following World War II. Simple in operation, with just two-measuring scales, it is a fine example of the well crafted instruments coming out of Japan at that time.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Wuilleumier Frères four-scale curvimètre

This month's measure is an uncommon survivor from one of the most important watchmakers in the Jura district in Switzerland.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: the WEDO adjustable kilometre measure

This month's measure was produced by German based company WEDO. A familiar brand in Germany and across the globe partly due to their well-known "we do it" slogan.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: HC model 457, combination pedometer, compass and map measure

This month's measure combines three functions. Two of which are inefficient measures while the third is of questionable use. That said, it is a fascinating example of how manufacturers would squeeze extra function into an instrument to attract customers.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: the Royal Automobile Club ‘scale rule’ bookmark

Simple scale rules were included with some road atlases published by the Royal Automobile Club. These acted as both bookmark and map measure.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Uittokalusto O.Y. Karttamittari

This months measure is a simple brass 'Karttamittari' produced and sold by Uittokalusto O.Y. Finnish word 'kartta', from Swedish 'karta', meaning map. Finnish word 'mittari', from meter/gauge/indicator, or device for measuring.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: HC Universal, with compass and ‘reading glass’

This month's map measure is an intriguing HC Universal curvimetre, with compass and magnifier. But is it a good combination?

map measurer

Map measure of the month: the Automobile Association ‘scale rule’ bookmark

Simple scale rules were included with some road atlases published by the Automobile Association and acted both as bookmark and map measure.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: George Philip & Son Rotameter

"a small, but sturdily built, wheeled measurer, fitted with a dial and rotating hands which indicate lengths of traverse up to 25 feet or 300 inches" Philip & Son

map measurer

Map measure of the month: >W&G< Drawing Instruments- model WG/5006

The >W&G< measure is an Australian made scale ruler from a company that began manufacturing duplicate printing plates and supplying printer equipment but went on to build a reputation for their well-made drawing instruments.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: John Hand & Sons “Miledial”

This map measure is a quality instrument from a well-known French manufacturer, but with a twist. The Miledial was especially made for export to the US market, to be sold by one of the premier retailers of nautical instruments

map measurer

Map measure of the month: the Sakurai ‘single-face’ centimetre curvimeter

The Japanese made Sakurai centimetre measure is simple and attractive but has lost the capability for very accurate measurement over the past couple of decades.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Harvey Maps 25k and 40k ‘map-measure-go!’ laces

It is not often that a new design of map measure appears on the market. Harvey Maps bucked the trend in 2022 and released a fun little product- boot and shoe laces complete with printed scales to suit their most popular map scales- 1:25 000 and 1: 40 000.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: the Carl Zeiss Jena/Freiberger Präszisionsmechanik Kurvimeter 78

The Freiberger Präzisionsmechanik company is based in Saxony, Germany and has a long and convoluted history that has seen many name and structural changes. From 1965 to 1990, they were part of the Kombinat VEB Carl Zeiss Jena optics parent company. The Kurvimeter 78 map measure looked at here dates from that period of Soviet control.

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Three Points of the Compass

Long Distance Trails, lightweight backpacking and gear, map measures and anything outdoorsy

curvimeter

Map measure of the month: Aristo 1323 Fächermaßstab

Map measure of the month: Henri Burnat No. 61 TP ‘Special Grand Modèle’

Map measure of the month: Krasnogorsk Mechanical Works curvimeter

Map measure of the month: Sakurai two-sided curvimeter

Map measure of the month: Frederick Post model 1368

Map Measure of the Month: The Action Line key tag #199

Map measure of the month: Lutz metric and imperial

Map measure of the month: Wuilleumier Frères four-scale curvimètre

Map measure of the month: the WEDO adjustable kilometre measure

Map measure of the month: HC model 457, combination pedometer, compass and map measure

Map measure of the month: the Royal Automobile Club ‘scale rule’ bookmark

Map measure of the month: Uittokalusto O.Y. Karttamittari

Map measure of the month: HC Universal, with compass and ‘reading glass’

Map measure of the month: the Automobile Association ‘scale rule’ bookmark

Map measure of the month: George Philip & Son Rotameter

Map measure of the month: >W&G< Drawing Instruments- model WG/5006

Map measure of the month: John Hand & Sons “Miledial”

Map measure of the month: the Sakurai ‘single-face’ centimetre curvimeter

Map measure of the month: Harvey Maps 25k and 40k ‘map-measure-go!’ laces

Map measure of the month: the Carl Zeiss Jena/Freiberger Präszisionsmechanik Kurvimeter 78