Calculating Instruments
At the time Neault went through college, computers did not exist and even electromechanical calculators were not that common (see, for example, our example from the 1940s in the collection). The slide rule, however was able to do remarkably complex calculations quite quickly. Neault kept two of them from his college days, as the [duplex' rule performed slightly different calculations than the 'stadia' type (see each instrument for a description of their function). The planimeter and proportional dividers then were used to measure and scale drawings that were the mainstay of engineering practice during his working career.
The inclusion of the Methods-Time Measurer Application card is an important part of this collections because, while not really a scientific instrument itself, but rather a reference card, it reminds us how these instruments were placed into contexts and the goals of engineers in the years following World War II.
The level is a curious addition to this collection. One would generally not consider it a scientific instrument, and this one is not marked in any particular way that would let us understand what it meant to Neault. But it clearly held an important association for him about his college days.