Georg Friedrich von Reichenbach (1772–1826), a German maker of astronomical instruments, designed an early dividing engine, and Jesse Ramsden (1735–1800), a British pioneer in the design of precision tools, designed dividing engines of great accuracy for both circles and straight lines and produced highly accurate sextants , theodolites (see {{link=surveying">surveying ), and vertical circles for astronomical observatories.
DIVIDING ENGINE
Meaning of DIVIDING ENGINE in English
Britannica English dictionary. Английский словарь Британика. 2012