Posted by Rainer (210.86.1.43) on December 11, 2002 at 12:04:20:
In Reply to: Re: Question for John Collins posted by John Collins on December 11, 2002 at 00:07:27:
Hi John,
maybe I can be of help with the translations of that part if you can show it, don't think showing 2 or 3 lines would breach any copyright .. would it? I'm german and have a technical background (Toolmaker, Ind. Designer)
Cheers,
Rainer
: :Hi Grim,
: I don't know where the "pierced in the middle" bit came from unless it was speculation from my book. I only know for sure that the weighs were estimated to be about 4 lbs and "cylindrical". Cylindrical is a tricky word when translated from 18thC German. If you look in a dictionary there are dozens of alternatives such as "rounded" and "curved". No description of any piercing exists because Profesor Wolff who described the weights also said that they were wrapped in handkerchief before being handed to him. An 18thC hanky was a much bigger item than today's little patches of cloth so the weights were well-covered and impossible to describe in any detail. Again, the springs were speculation by Wolff, and not based on certain knowledge. I have looked for alternative descriptions of the weights and continue to do so but have never found any others but Wolff's.
: John Collins