Museo Galileo
italiano
Virtual Museum
Section of Room VI
 The Instruments of the Artilleryman

With the spread of firearms, the "bombardier" became a military technician highly specialized in the deployment of ordnance. To set cannon fire precisely, accurate measurements had to be made with specific instruments: quadrants and magnetic compasses for calculating the distance of the target, and squares for determining the elevation of the bombard, compasses with curved legs for the gauge of projectiles, graduated rods to weigh cannonballs and calculate the amount of gunpowder to be used.

Objects
Caliper compass

Caliper compass

Inv. 652, 3706
Maker unknown, Italian, 17th cent.

Carpenter's folding rule

Carpenter's folding rule

Inv. 608
Maker unknown, English, 17th cent.

Case for military instruments

Case for military instruments

Inv. 620
Maker unknown, 17th cent.

Gunner's caliper

Gunner's caliper

Inv. 695
Maker unknown, 17th cent.

Gunner's caliper

Gunner's caliper

Inv. 699
Maker unknown, German?, 17th cent.

Gunner's quadrant

Gunner's quadrant

Inv. 1303
Maker unknown, 17th cent.

Gunner's quadrant

Gunner's quadrant

Inv. 659
Maker unknown, 17th cent.

Gunner's sight and level

Gunner's sight and level

Inv. 2531
Maker unknown, German?, 16th cent.

Gunner's sight and level

Gunner's sight and level

Inv. 670
Maker unknown, 16th cent.

Gunner's sight and level

Gunner's sight and level

Inv. 3689
Maker unknown, 17th cent.

Measuring rule

Measuring rule

Inv. 694
Maker unknown, English, 16th cent.

Military rule

Military rule

Inv. 658
Maker unknown, Italian?, 16th cent.

Military rule

Military rule

Inv. 657
Maker unknown, Italian?, 16th cent.

Plumb level

Plumb level

Inv. 3690
Maker unknown, 17th cent.

Plumb level

Plumb level

Inv. 3184
Maker unknown, 17th cent.