The parallel rule A History of the Titanic in 30 Pieces

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This is a parallel rule.

We understand it belonged to Thomas Andrews,

who was the design manager at Harland and Wolff at the time of Titanic.

It's basically two rulers

which are connected by two arms,

and they draw parallel lines.

For Andrews' design team, it was a vital tool

in making the guts of the ship.

Parallel rules would give you the accuracy that you need

drawing elevations and floor plans of the bedrooms

and the main function rooms within the ship,

or even drawing the funnels,

which are obviously parallel to each other,

or even the decks. That's where it would come into its own.

If you look at Titanic from any angle,

be it from the front or the rear or from the side, it is spectacular.

Without this simple tool,

the Titanic wouldn't have made it off the drawing board.