FAUSTMANN S MIRROR HYPSOMETER by Wolfgang Ruecker Oct. 2009

Transcription

1 E HISTORY and DETAILS of the FAUSTMANN S MIRROR HYPSOMETER by Wolfgang Ruecker Oct. 2009

2 The Faustmann Hypsometer for tree height measuring TABLE OF CONTENT 1. Tree height measuring 2. Parts of the Faustmann Hypsometer 3. Operating instruction 4. Makers / Distributors a. Faustmann b. Other scientific instrument makers 5. Development of the instrument 6. Advantages / Disadvantages 7. Time-table 2

3 1. Tree height measuring This mirror hypsometer is to measure the height of trees by (well known) principle of similar triangles. The method requires a base-line A-D to be measured from the tree to the point of observation. Base -line The height you can read directly on a scale of the instrument without calculation or using a tabular work. 3

4 What was Faustmann s idea to invent his instrument? In the 1850s SQUARE MEASURING BORDS were used. Faustmann wanted to invent an instrument: Better quality of the sighting devices Smaller (Easy to carry in the pocket) One person only No tripod No computation necessary Also for levelling 4

5 2. Parts of the Faustmann s Hypsometer 5

6 2. Parts of the Faustmann s Hypsometer A description from a catalogue: The Hypsometer is 3 ¼ x 7 in and made from polished hardwood (lime). It is provided with two scales: the scale of heights on the lower edge of the instrument and the scale of distances on the two edges of the groove in which the slide moves. The slide (in linseed oil boiled pear wood) carries the plumb bob cord and has two reading lines marked I and II, corresponding to the two scales of distances, also marked I and II. It is held in place by a spring. The plumb bob is stored in a garage near the eye piece at the left side. The peep-hole and hair line sights are hinged to fold down. The hinged mirror is 5 ¾ x ¾ in is mounted in brass. Cloth covered pocket with cover flap. Let s have a look into this pocket 6

7 3. OPERATING INSTRUCTION Faustmann in his operating instruction 1872: Measure distance to the tree (base line) Adjust slide on the distance scale Get off the plumb bob Open sighting devices Thumb under the instrument, fingers over it Align sighting devices and tree top Open mirror with the right hand Hold mirror with left thumb in position Read the height where the string marks the scale 7

8 3. OPERATING INSTRUCTION The Mirror-Hypsometer can be used to measure Oberförster Martin Faustmann * HEIGHT OF TREES LEVELS DISTANCES ANGLES 8

9 4. Makers / Distributors Martin and Sophie FAUSTMANN, Babenhausen ( s) Göhler s Witwe, Freiberg (Sachsen) (1902 -Catalogue 1924) HARTMANN & BRAUN, Frankfurt (1884 and 1890) REISS, Liebenwerda (since 1882) until 1930s SPÖRHASE, GIESSEN (formerly Staudinger) TESDORPF (formerly ZIMMER), Stuttgart (1870s -1904) WEILAND, Liebenwerda (catalogue 1928) WICHMANN, Berlin ( catalogue 1939) FROMME, WIEN Austria 1902 KRAFT & SOHN, WIEN Austria 1902 Neuhöfer, Wien Austria ( s) KEUFFEL & ESSER, New York USA ( s) Other UNKNOWN MAKERS 9

10 4. Makers / Distributors Faustmann was busy with his Hypsometer since 1852 May 1854 he published his ideas for a new MIRROR HYPSOMETER in the AFJZ (without pictures) Dec 1856 the instrument was presented and described in AFJZ (8 pages!) A 2 nd, 3 rd and 4 th edition followed Faustmann s widow Sophie sold after his dead 1876 the Mirror Hypsometer (ad in AFJZ 1882 page 252) 10

11 4 a. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS made by MARTIN FAUSTMANN 1 st edition Original drawing from Allgem. Forst- und Jagdzeitung Dec

12 4 a. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS made by MARTIN FAUSTMANN 1 st edition parts sighting device (brass); eye piece, hair line (hair from horse tail) Slide (pear, later ebony) Distance scale Height scale (oil varnished paper) Plummet (lead) with line (silk) Hinged mirror (mounted in brass) 12

13 4 a. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS made by MARTIN FAUSTMANN 1 st edition Faustmann s Höhenmesser. Price 2 Gulden 24 Kreuzer Instrument #114 University Dresden. Original Faustmann. First edition. 13

14 4 a. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS made by MARTIN FAUSTMANN 2 nd edition Faustmann s Spiegel-Hypsometer 2. Aufl. No xxx After the 1 st edition was sold he got a lot of orders, so he decided on doing a 2 nd edition. better graduated scales in higher quality Numbered by hand Higher price: 2 Gulden 30 Kreuzer Sorry, no photo available. Do YOU know one? 14

15 4 a. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS made by MARTIN FAUSTMANN 3 rd edition Faustmann s Spiegel-Hypsometer 3. Aufl. No 637 Later: Round slide by TESDORPF 15

16 4 a. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS made by MARTIN FAUSTMANN 4 th edition (1900) Faustmann s Spiegel-Hypsometer 4. Aufl.: zugleich für Metermessung. No xxx Scales with METER (red) and STRICH (black) This bicolor scales were replaced later by black figures only Price 6 Mark 1882 Every edition was new numbered Faustmann mentionned nearly 1000 produced instruments in

17 4 b. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS from OTHER MAKERS HARTMANN & BRAUN, Frankfurt marked 4. Auflage No 2124 High quality Brass screws Substantial mirror mount Meter and Strich Expensive plumb bob (brass, unscrews) Price 12 Mark

18 4 b. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS from OTHER MAKERS REISS, Liebenwerda s Company labels: 1882 Technisches Versandgeschäft (Price 6 Mark 1898) 1904 Fabrik für geodätische Instrumente 1908 Fabrik GmbH für geodätische Later hinged mirror: angle 5 degrees Plumb bobs eyepiece 18

19 4 b. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS from OTHER MAKERS TESDORPF (ZIMMER), Stuttgart rounded slide Plumb bob Price 10 Mark 1900 Mirror 5 degrees Also produced: Brass frame version Price 30 Mark 19

20 4 b. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS from OTHER MAKERS NEUHÖFER, Wien Austria s First instruments not marked with company name Special hinged sighting devices (simple, good, cheap) Scales only Meter Mirror 5 degrees Plumb bob (line casted in the lead) eyepiece 20

21 4 b. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS from OTHER MAKERS KEUFFEL & ESSER, NEW YORK USA s Hard wood instrument (very similar to Tesdorpf) Price 1904 $6.50 Mirror mounted in alumium Brass frame body Plumb bob like H&B Handle at the back side Price 1904 $

22 4 b. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS from OTHER MAKERS UNKNOWN MAKER different shape found in a French book Instrument bought in Hungary One distance scale only Longer height scale for better quality 22

23 4 b. MIRROR HYPSOMETERS from OTHER MAKERS Folding Different types of height scale Slide fff fff 23

24 5. Development of the instrument Common shape since 1856 Sighting device at the top Mirror at the bottom Distance 50 mm 50 mm Shape 1887 Sighting device directly over the mirror Distance 23 mm (like #116 TU Dresden; Schabbach, Wien Shape 1884/1912 Sighting device directly over the mirror (distance 23 mm) Folding distance scale 23 mm 24

25 5. Development of the instrument Why came the sighting device close to the mirror? Common type: Problem to see the scale in the mirror without moving the head of the user orbending the mirror Modification: Peep hole near to mirror. Figures on the scale can be seen better Another solution from REISS and TESDORPF: MIRROR with an angle of 5 degrees 25

26 5. Development of the instrument Different mirror positions REISS and TESDORPF etc. FAUSTMANN 26

27 5. Development of the instrument The line and the plumb bob are very influenced by the wind. Friedrich TIEMANN proposed 1896 (AFJZ) to replace the PLUMB LINE by a METAL PENDULUM: Metal frame with lead as weight. In the frame a horse tail hair as indicator This pendulum is connected to the common slide with a pin Later Tesdorpf in Stuttgart modified and sold it. Two steel rods connected with brass plates Connected to the MODIFIED (metal) slide by a screw Horse tail hair as indicator DISADVANTAGES: Double price Mark Additional box for storage Friction between pendulum and body of the instrument Sorry, no photo or original drawing available. WHO KNOWS THIS INSTRUMENT? 27

28 Drawings from books and catalogues Die Forsteinrichtung 1898 Holland 1894 (H&B) 1924 similar to REISS 28

29 6 a. Advantages of the Faustmann Mirror Hypsometer Can be used for EVERY DISTANCE, (other instruments: fix scales for15m, 20, 30, 40 and 50m) ONE MAN to set up and determine a height measurement LIGHT, SMALL, carrying in the pocket Tool does AWAY WITH COMPUTATIONS (direct results) SIMPLE to repair (wood, screws, horse tail hairs ) Does not need a TRIPOD CHEAP SUFFICIENT ACCURACY for this kind of MEASUREMENT Can also be used for ALIGNING forest roads, DISTANCE measuring and ANGLE measuring 29

30 6 b. DISADVANTAGES of the Faustmann Mirror Hypsometer Affected by the WIND The occasional BREAKAGE of the plumb line LOSS of the plummet Visibility in the mirror (modified position) Damage of the hinge of the long mirror (nails replaced by screws) PAPER scales (better glue, oil varnished scales) 30

31 31

32 REMARK: This Powerpoint presentation and additional details about the Faustmann s Mirror Hypsometer you will find soon for download (in German and English) on my website If you have any information about existing FAUSTMANN S Mirror Hypsometers, please le me know. On demand I can send you as attachment other publications about the this Mirror Hypsometer. Feel free to ask: plumbbobwolf@t-online.de I got a lot of support (information and pictures) by the University Dresden, Museum Babenhausen, J.D. Sauerländers s Verlag Frankfurt, Prof. Weimann, Gießen, Holztriftmuseum Wien, Museum Klein Auheim and some others. I want to thank all who have helped me in my researches. Thank you for your interest Wolfgang Rücker 32