Mathematics

Two gilt bronze "arithmetical medals" sold by J.Maddux at the "Hand and Pen", Brook Street, Holbourn, c. 1753. The medals are inscribed with the multiplication tables up to 10 on one side and the 12 times table on the other. They indicate the relativ

• Two gilt bronze arithmetical medals, c.1753

A circular slide rule, made by John Brown, with two brass radial arms and an stronomical quadrant engraved on the back. A spiral slide rule affords a long and therefore accurate logarithmic line in a small amount of space. The potential of spiral rul

• Circular slide rule, 1660-1680.

Set of ivory Napier's bones 18th century, in wooden box. John Napier of Merchiston, invented both logarithms in 614 and his 'bones' in 1617, sets of rods with tables inscribed on them which allow the user to multiply by simply adding figures.

• Set of Napier's bones, 18th century.

McFarlane calculating cylinder, c1835. This is a ready reckoner inscribed with tables giving various percentages of various sums of money in sterling.

• McFarlane calculating cylinder, c.1835.

Chinese abacus, or suan-pan, 19th century

• Chinese abacus, or suan-pan, 19th century.

Six inch Brass sector 1720-1753 signed T Heath Fecit, decorated on hinge and legs with floral patterns. Sectors were used from the end of the 16th century until the mid 19th century to perform calculations involving proportion. They were inscribed w

• Six inch brass sector, 1720-1753.

Six inch silver sector signed "Ramsden, London" with attached set square, late 18th century. Sectors were used from the end of the 16th century until the mid 19th century for calculations involving proportion. They were ingraved with logarithmic and

• Six inch silver sector, late 18th century.

Replica of a Bavarian counting cloth, 16th century. The original cloth is preserved at the Bavarian National Museum in Munich. Reckoning cloths were used as portable substitutes for counting boards. The letters on the cloth stand for various denomina

• Replica Bavarian reckoning cloth, German, 16th century.

Wine diagonal, a type of gauging rod, by J.Stutchbury, 1797-1826. These were used by Excise Officers together with slide rules to calculate the volume of wine in wine casks, and thence the duty payable. Until 1826 the volume of a wine gallon was diff

• Wine diagonal, 1797-1826.

Replica of a quipu made from an original held at the Museum of Natural History, New York, in 1974. Quipus were used by the Incas during the 15th and early 16th centuries as records of all types of accounts. It was discovered in the early 20th century

• Replica quipu, South American, c 15th century.