I call them a "Walking A", but there must have been a technical name for the A-frame device that you could pivot from a knob on the top and measure distance. The measurement between the points was a set distance and you multiplied the number of turns by that distance.
A lady in her 80's called me tonight and remembered that her father used one to compute acreage in the 1930's. She said a government agency (maybe the Soil Conservation Service) supplied them to farmers and she had fond memories of using it.
Was the distance between the points something easy to remember like 5 feet or was it related to rods or chains?
Toise in Louisiana EDIT
> I call them a "Walking A", but there must have been a technical name for the A-frame device that you could pivot from a knob on the top and measure distance. The measurement between the points was a set distance and you multiplied the number of turns by that distance.
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> A lady in her 80's called me tonight and remembered that her father used one to compute acreage in the 1930's. She said a government agency (maybe the Soil Conservation Service) supplied them to farmers and she had fond memories of using it.
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> Was the distance between the points something easy to remember like 5 feet or was it related to rods or chains?
I saw one once at a Louisiana state convention. A surveyor from North La brought one for show and tell.
I believe he call it a "toise' but my mind could be a little foggy there about that but toise for some reason that rings a bell. Pleaase someone confirm this or correct me.. He said he found it at a rummage place. .
Maybe Lamon Miller who posts here was there and he remembers. I know Tony Cavell would know. You could contact him.
I think this one measured about 6' and it looked more like a 19th century tool than a 1930's tool.
A quick search failed to give me any good references.
I did find this one that uses the name A-frame and says that 6.6 ft (0.1 chain) was sometimes used for easy conversion to chains and acres.
Was it sometimes called a toise? That is a French unit of measure and perhaps the device and unit shared a name?
I keep thinking that travoise might also have been used for it, in addition to being an A-frame to put a load on and drag behind a beast of burden. Whether there is really a connection to the term traverse there or just in my imagination, I can't prove right now.
Note that the A-frame can also be used as a level by either putting a bubble vial on the cross-piece, or hanging a plumb bob from the apex and using a mark in the center of the cross-piece to indicate when the ends are level. The latter form has been used in underdeveloped countries for laying out irrigation, etc.
you got it Bill
I remembered it was based on a French unit of measure of about 6 ft and I wiki-ed French Measurement units while you posted
Dividers
You have to set the distance between the points from a scale before "walking" the distance.
Dividers
> You have to set the distance between the points from a scale before "walking" the distance.
I think they're talking about a device that's similar to dividers but actually used to measure distances on the ground. Giant dividers, but with a different name. I've never seen such a thing, but won't be surprised to learn that it exists.
Dividers
Sounds like a military pace stick.
Found a video showing them in use. Skip ahead to about 4 minutes in.
This is what I was looking for. This patent is for an advanced model that is adjustable, but most were of a fixed wooden frame at a set distance. One leg remained planted while the other leg pivoted forward. Then that leg remained planted and the other leg pivoted forward.
Name notwithstanding, the interesting thing is that when this patent was applied for (1914), lightweight and compact steel tapes were already in general use. This device is bulky and no doubt heavy. Further, it provides a measurement that approximates the roll of the land but with no way to reduce the measured distance to horizontal. It would also be hard to keep on line, and due to its short reach, small offsets from line will result in relatively large discrepancies from a straight-line distance measurement.
It looks like a solution in search of a problem to me.
It is interesting that the patent drawing posted is by Didier A Landaiche of the Landaiche sugar farming company in South Louisiana. He must have picked up an old 19th century Toise and thought with a little redesign an patent that he could make some money from it.
The one that I saw was more of a modified "omega" shape or onion shape top and had a lot of metal in the frame. That is why it probably still survived when I sw it about 12-14 years ago.
definitely a measuring tool for farmers for a variety of purposes. Accuracy not needed and probably measuring from one landmark to another by solo operation
The fixed frame device we discussed a few years ago was called an 'a frame',, sometimes referred to as an 'A,, typically 1/10 chain across. Google it for links.
Dividers
Humm, looks like my link didn't come out very well.
With the "knob on the top" description, I never considered that it would be used on the ground.
Pretty modern and the batteries won't go dead. Reminds me of my first party chief who seemed to always get lost in the woods while surveying logging roads. His boss recommended pointing a stick in front of him and to follow the direction it was pointed "That simple task will always lead you out of the forest". Sure, you may come out somewhere in Quebec or northern California but you will eventually come out of the forest. Ya think one needs to be mounted on the top of this thing?
