Folding Ruler

Name/Title

Folding Ruler

Entry/Object ID

2017.10.98

Description

Folding ruler (or rule) of brass-mounted boxwood with a brass knuckle hinge and a square joint. It consists of 4 sections when open. The markings, both numerical and alphabetical, run on the wood as well as the brass, including on the edges, with depth measurements. There are small brass pins to keep the ruler together when folded. The manufacturer's mark reads, "W. & L. E. Gurley."

Context

This was in the toolbox of Dwight Joseph Dwinell, who carved the second Ceres statue at the top of the cupola of the Capitol Building.

Acquisition

Accession

2017.10

Source or Donor

McChesney, David

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of David McChesney

Made/Created

Manufacturer

W. & L. E. Gurley

Date made

1890 - 1938

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Ruler

Nomenclature Class

Weights & Measures T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Folded

Width

3/4 in

Length

6 in

Dimension Description

Open

Width

3/8 in

Length

24 in

Material

Boxwood, Brass

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Dwinnell, Dwight Joseph (1851-1940)

Related Places

Place

City

Montpelier

County

Washington County

State/Province

Vermont

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Interpretative Labels

Label

In 1938, the statue of Ceres on top of the gold dome of the Vermont State House was removed. The hand from that statue can be seen elsewhere in this case. 87-year-old Dwight Dwinnell, Sergeant-at-Arms of the State House, used these tools to carve a replacement for it based on Mead's original. Dwinnell's Ceres is considered today to be an important piece of folk art, and recently underwent restoration.