u/Old_Instrument_Guy

I picked up this Plane Table Protractor several years ago on Facebook Marketplace for $50. It has a Vernier adjustment as well as a Transverse scale on the blade. Most likely American manufacture but unclear because it has no signature.

This one sprouted as a volunteer this year in Palm Beach Gardens. It's grown about 3 ft tall in as many months.

Various sunrises from the same location. Have a great day.

I recently purchased a Crozet's Protractor by Keuffel & Esser ca. 1890. In the case is included a Logarithmic Spiral Curve. I am looking for some help as to how these would have been used in conjunction. These two instruments fell out of favor in the early 1900's although K&E continued to sell the Logarithmic Curve up until 1970ish.

From what I understand the Crozet's protractor was used in field work to transfer measurements similar to the Colby Protractor:

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/32/97/2a/5a78bce2af7098/US507216.pdf

I have found references to the Logarithmic curve being used for steam engine Calculations, but I am curious as to what it would be used for in surveying?

I am also taking suggestions as to alternate places to post. Thank you

EDIT:

Here is more information on the Crozet Protractor:

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_1127106

This is a great drought tolerant large shrub.

https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP104

If anyone in Palm Beach is interested in growing their own, the south side of the parking lot of Lucky Strike Jupiter (350 Maplewood Dr, Jupiter, FL 33458) is loaded with seed pods. I have successfully grown 20 plants from these specimens.

The trick to germinating the seeds is getting all the red goop off. I found after a quick wash, one can roll them back and forth in a paper towel to get the last of the sticky red stuff off. Plan on 1:10 ratio for success.

The only drawback to this shrub is the Jamaican Leaf Roller Moth. They can really make a mess of things but they don't kill the shrub.

EDIT: It's also a slow grower. So it won't quickly outgrow it's space.

"Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn. Forth, Eorlingas!"

Anyone have a proven method for getting rid of leaf miners on key lime or other citrus trees? I've tried neem oil as well as pesticides. But they just won't give a tree a break.

Let us not forget the spiders that occupy our gardens an important part of the Circle of Life. yes, there is nothing more distressing than a face full of web, but they are adorable in their own way.

All photos by me and these were all in Miam-Dade. Your spider experience will vary depending on Planting Zone.

Recently restore interiors of this magnificent symbol of an architects unrelenting vision.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmwood_House

The first compass is by Kraft & Sohn out of Vienna and dates to the mid 19th. Century.

The second is an unsigned beam compass that dates to around the same time period. This style with the base plate are extremely rare to find. W.F. Stanley wrote about this in his 1866 treatise on drawing instruments, and went to great lengths describing this compass and it's shortcomings in favor of his own design. He was the OG My Pillow Guy.

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https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/1809

Any thoughts on this plant before I yoink it and yeet it into the, "Not in My Garden!" Pile. There seems to be some debate as to the native status of this plant.

Someone was asking about removing and replacing an impact window in their condo which was undergoing concrete restoration. Hence, my little diagram. So I decided to share here.

An impact window is not an impact window if not installed properly. If you have some dudes who gave you a good deal on your windows and install you should not feel guilty about checking their work.

1. The concrete opening should be free of defects and have straight flat surfaces. It should not look like a beaver cut the opening.

2. There should be a liquid applied waterproofing applied to the opening

3. A wood buck, generally a 1x pressure treated lumber should be set in the opening and screwed to the concrete with Tapcons this should be part of the engineering drawings. It acts as as a big spacer.

4. The buck should then be covered in the same liquid flashing.

5. The window is then installed using the screw pattern as per the engineering drawings also known as the Notice of Acceptance (NOA). The Tapcons should pass through the buck and set into the concrete at least 2 inches

6. This is important. The shim space between the buck and the window should not exceed 1/4"

7. The window is now caulked from the outside sealing the window to the previous applied waterproofing. It is imperative that the caulk is compatible with the waterproofing membrane.

Finally, the window should have a decal on it demarking the wind load pressures it was tested for as well as the NOA number. There should be engineering drawings showing the wind pressures on your house. The closer you get to a corner, the higher the pressure. Not all Impact Windows can meet these pressures.

Carlyle House

Built: 1751

121 North Fairfax Street

Alexandria, Virginia

The Surrogate's Court in Lower Manhattan . Originally known as the Hall of Records completed in 1907. There are three main bronze doors facing south. Each has matching bronze gates flanked by electric braziers. All the work is done in the Beaux Arts style. The last photo shows the state of all three doors and the state of the door handles. Only one of the 6 handles exists as it was originally designed. The pipe bomb handle on the left is just the Chef's Kiss of New Yorker's lack of interest in preserving anything well made.