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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Unpublished paper, 'On the form of the teeth of wheels' by Robert Woodhouse

Reference number: AP/3/22

Date: 1807

Description

Woodhouse discusses various theories regarding the optimal form of the teeth of wheels required to achieve equilibrium between power and weight. Woodhouse references the work of [Philippe] de la Hire, [Charles Étienne Louis?] Camus, and [Leonhard] Euler. Includes 15 diagrams, two within the text and 13 as separate plates.

Annotations, corrections, deletions, and marginalia in ink and pencil appear throughout. Includes some footnotes in French.

Subject: Physics / Engineering

Whilst this paper was not abstracted in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, a mention of its reading at a meeting of the Society was published in The Philosophical Magazine: 'XLII. Proceedings of Learned Societies'. The Philosophical Magazine: comprehending the various branches of science, the liberal and fine arts, agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, vol 29, 1808, p. 275.

Read to the Royal Society on 10 December 1807.

Reference number
AP/3/22
Earliest possible date
1807
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
52 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Robert Woodhouse

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Citation

Robert Woodhouse, Unpublished paper, 'On the form of the teeth of wheels' by Robert Woodhouse, 1807, AP/3/22, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_3_22/unpublished-paper-on-the-form-of-the-teeth-of-wheels-by-robert-woodhouse, accessed on 13 May 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_3_22/unpublished-paper-on-the-form-of-the-teeth-of-wheels-by-robert-woodhouse

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    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

    Dates: 1768 - 1989

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