"portagraion" -- a "mathematical instrument" circa 1745?

[James Landau]

I am resending this message because it may have disappeared into a black
hole on the first attempt.

Two more responses on "portagraion".  Udai Venedem is a French rare book
dealer.

Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 15:27:55 +0100
From: venedem <ud.venedem at wanadoo.fr>
Subject: Re: [HM] "portagraion" -- a "mathematical instrument" circa 1745?

Apparently, it is quoted from an old catalogue of instruments, and it
comes just after "drawing Pens". My suggestion is "portagraion" could
mean "Porte-crayon", that is a box to keep various pens. Have a amused
look at

http://chezlorry.ca/EvenSpec/FeteMere/Bricolages/Portecrayon.htm

Udai Venedem
http://aaaa.fr.eu.org/alta.mathematica/
- --------------------------


Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 10:17:53 +0100 (MEZ)
From: Heinz Lueneburg <luene at mathematik.uni-kl.de>
Subject: Re: [HM] "portagraion" -- a "mathematical instrument" circa 1745?

I asked a friend about the portagraion. He thinks that it is a miss-spelling
of the word "porte-crayon". The porte-crayon used to be part of cases of
drawing utensils.
Porte-crayon = holder of drawing material whatever you used in 1745.

Heinz Lueneburg

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Somebody asked me about whether aluminum alloys were used for cigarette
foil.  My recollection is that in the 1960's Anaconda Aluminum sold
cigarette foil in at least three different alloys.  I have no idea what the
alloying elements were and whether lead was one of them.

I would like to point out that anybody who is seriously worried about
radiation would wear not a lead helmet but a lead LOINCLOTH.

     - James A. Landau

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