posted
Every time a pounce wheel gets put to use near a group of people, I always hear the old story about how Michelangelo had to make his pounce patterns by poking holes with a pin or something. This was of course shown in the movie with Charlton Heston, so therefore it must be true! Metalwork and machining in the 1500's was fairly advanced- a pounce wheel was not rocket science, and many beautiful examples of drafting and navigation instruments exist from that time period. When I was at the Istituto e Museo di storia della Scienza (Institute & Museum of the History of Science) in Florence, I actually saw a pounce wheel believed to have been owned by Michelangelo!
Here is the picture from the book, and the caption: Geometrical Compass in brass, possibly owned by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) It was found in battered cardboard case along with ten other assorted pieces in steel. In the case was was also found a handwritten note with the above attribution of ownership. The characteristics of its construction are such that it could well have belonged to Michelangelo. (Gift of Alfredo Pimpenelli)
So there!
[ December 03, 2003, 11:12 PM: Message edited by: Jeremy Vecoli ]
posted
Too much bad information.... Wild west Sign Painters developed the pounce wheel they even have a portable version that attaches to a boot heel. I think Chris Elliot has the patent on those and the originals that were worn by Slappy Hooper. The pair of "dividers" above are actually a "Union Scale". You may recall the story of Mike-anglo the Saxon, he applied for the job of church wall dog... when asked by the Pope "I love the price but when can you start?" Mike whipped out the "Union Scale" drew a perfect circle and said.... "when I get aroundtuit". Well the the rest is history, the Vatican went non-union hired some no name hack-scab. I heard it took him like forever to finish the job, spending much of his time sleeping on scaffolds and carving naked boys outta stone. He was also asked to paint over the scribe marks left by the Union steward which he did... freehanded and with lead-base paint and no safety harness!
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