Posted by Jonathan (68.14.212.239) on November 02, 2003 at 03:18:20:
In Reply to: Re: Q for ovyyus re the angles on Apologia wheel posted by ovyyus on November 02, 2003 at 01:41:14:
What are the chances that I would write this exact question below (on index page) before having read this thread?
: Hi John,
: IMO, Bessler had the talent to reproduce exactly what he wanted in a woodcut. I know I could produce a hand carved printing block to exact specifications, therefore Bessler certainly would have had no problem.
: I think the angle measurements on this illustration are exactly (within reason) what JB intended - 25 deg for the white sections and 95 deg for the dark sections (my measurement is 25.5 and 94.5 respectively).
: Of course, exactly what this drawing represents is the real mystery. Is he describing a fundimental layout within the wheel, is he describing an encoded geometry, or is he describing the weights within his wheel? Or is it something else. If nothing else it is typically Bessler :)
: Regards, ovyyus
:
: : Hi Ovvyus,
: : As something of an expert on woodcuts Bill, do you think that JB could have made his angles look any more accurate than they are in the woodcut of the Apologia diagram, given the techniques required to reproduce such a diagram? My point, as you've probably guessed, is this - were the angles deliberately made to be 95 degrees and 25 degrees (roughly), due to his own innaccuracy and lack of care? - Unlikely I admit. Or was it the difficulty of working in such a medium? Again unlikely I think. Or was it deliberate? And if so why? Where would the angles 95 and 25 (plus their fractions) be so important? As you know I tend towards the concept of 90+30=120 degrees rather than the actual angles as measured. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this one mate.
: : John C.