Artist Index: Macdonald, John

MacDonald, John. A Treatise on Telegraphic Communication, Naval, Military, and Political: in which the known Defects of the Present System of Telegraphic Practice by Sea and Land are obviated by the Introduction of a Numerical Portable Dictionary... IV, 186 S. Mit 5 (1 kolor.) gest. Tafeln von S. Neele. 21 x 13 cm. Neues Halbleder (guter Zustand) mit RVergoldung. London, Military Library, 1808.
Nicht in der Ronalds Libr. Vgl. Poggendorff II, 5. – "Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald (1759-1831), F.R.S., who was already favourably known by two Reports on the Diurnal Variation ... publishes two treatises upon his 'Terrestrial Telegraph' ... His contrivance consists of thirteen boards or shutters arranged, like those of Edelcrantz, into three vertical ranks representing hundreds, tens and units. Twelve of the boards are capable of producing 4095 distinct combinations, and the thirteenth or auxiliary board, which is mounted over the centre of the apparatus, doubles that number. A flag or vane is added to the hundred side to distinguish it in whatever direction it may be viewed, and a ball sliding upon the staff which supports it affords the means of again doubling the number, so that, on the whole, 16,380 distinct signals can be obtained." (Mottelay S. 399). Macdonald diente lange bei der East India Company, bevor er um 1800 nach England zurückkehrte und sich neben seinem Militärdienst vor allem Fragen des Erdmagnetismus widmete. – Leicht gebräunt, 2 Blatt mit alt restauriertem Ausriss.