"DD_BobK" wrote in message
...
On Apr 17, 3:48 pm, Tegger wrote:
"Steve B" wrote
:

I need one of those pen contraptions that you roll over blueprints and
aerial photos that then give a numerical value to the distance traveled.
What are they called, and what's a good supplier of them?

I believe you're thinking of a "planimeter".

http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1728&bih=885&tbm...

--
Tegger

The OP is looking for a "wheeled scale", not a planimeter.

A planimeter is for "measuring" (actually, mechanically summing) the
area enclosed by a perimeter.

btw... if anyone needs one, I'd be willing to loan mine out. I
bought one on ebay several years ago, I actually needed one.

cheers
Bob

I googled wheeled scale and didn't see anything that looks like what I need.
The planimeter looks like it. What I envisioned is a pen shaped device with
a small roller wheel at the tip that one would trace every line they wanted
to measure on a plan. I would use it on arial photographs to measure
sidewalk lengths on irregular sidewalks within HOAs. Not the straight
sidewalks, but those that snake all over the place. I currently use Google
Earth Tools Ruler Path, but sometimes I have lots of little lines, and no
long paths.

$60 is a little spendy, but I may spring for one, or try to catch a used one
somewhere.

Steve

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