Transversals were used at a time when finely graduated instruments were difficult to make. They were found on instruments starting in the early 14th century, but the inventor is unknown. In 1342 Levi Ben Gerson introduced an instrument called Jacob's staff and described the method of the transversal scale applied to the mentioned instrument. Thomas Digges mistakenly attributed the discovery of the transversal scale to the navigator and explorer Richard Chancellor. Its use on astronomical instruments only began in the late 16th century. Tycho Brahe used them and did much to popularize the technique. The technique began to die out once verniers became common in the late 18th century – over a century after Pierre Vernier introduced the technique. In the interim between transversals and the vernier scale, the nonius system, developed by Pedro Nunes, was used. However, it was never in common use. Tycho also used nonius methods, but he appears to be the only prominent astronomer to do so.
Linear transversals
Linear transversals were used on linear graduations. A grid of lines was constructed immediately adjacent to the linear graduations. The lines extending above the graduations formed part of the grid. The number of lines perpendicular to the extended graduation lines in the grid was dependent on the degree of fineness the instrument maker wished to provide. A grid of five lines would permit determination of the measure to one-fifth of a graduation's division. A ten-line grid would permit tenths to be measured. The distancebetween the lines is not critical as long as the distance is precisely uniform. Greater distances makes for greater accuracy. As seen in the illustration on the right, once the grid was scribed, diagonals were scribed from the uppermost corner of a column in the grid to the opposite lowest corner. This line intersects the cross lines in the grid in equal intervals. By using a cursor, alidade or similar indicator of measure, the closest point where the transversal crosses the grid is determined. That indicates the fraction of the graduation for the measure. In the illustration, the reading is indicated by the vertical red line. This could be the edge of an alidade or a similar device. Since the cursor crosses the transversal closest to the fourth grid linefrom the top, the reading is 0.54.
Circular transversals
Circular transversals perform the same function as the linear ones but for circular arcs. In this case, the construction of the grid is significantly more complicated. A rectangular grid will not work. A grid of radial lines and circumferential arcs must be created. In addition, a linear transverse line will not divide the radial grid into equal segments. Circular arc segments must be constructed as transversals to provide the correct proportions.
Tycho Brahe
Tycho Brahe created a grid of transversal lines made with secants between two groups of arcs that form two graduated limbs. The secants are drawn by joining the division of a limb with the next division of the other limb, and so on. He drew, for each degree, six straight transversals in an alternate mode forming a "V" and each transversal consisted of 9 points that divided it into 10 parts, which multiplied by 6 give 60 minutes. While Abd al-Mun'im al 'Âmilî drew them all in the same direction.
Other authors
The method of the "straight transversals" applied to the measurements of angles on circular or semicircular limbs in astronomical and geographic instruments was treated by several authors. Studying the accuracy of the system, some of them indicated the convenience of employing "Circular transversals", instead of the "straight transversals".
