Fauth
&
Co. Solar Transit
w/ George Saegmuller Solar Attachment
This is a rare and unusual solar transit. The transit is
double marked with both maker & company names. Under the glass is the name
Fauth & Co. This company was formed in the 1870's between George Saegmuller
and his two brothers in law, Camille Fauth and Henry Lockwood. On the
beveled plate, next to the vernier, it is marked George N. Saegmuller Wash.
DC. In later years Saegmuller
bought out both partners, first Mr. Lockwood, and
around the turn of the
century Fauth. Shortly afterward he renamed the company George N.
Saegmuller. I am not sure if this is a transition piece made right near the
turn of the century after he renamed the company, or an earlier instrument made
for Fauth and signed by Saegmuller when he worked as part of Fauth & Co. George Saegmuller is most famous for his design and patent of the solar attachment you see. He was granted the patent for this idea in the 1870's. The one pictured came with this instrument, but is housed in its own box. The box has some damage to the lid, but looks OK. The optics of the solar attachment are crisp and clear. The eyepiece cap or right angle piece is missing as can be seen.
The transit has an 7" scope and would be designated as a Expedition model. The box for the transit is a study in compactness, and there is no way you could have ever fit the solar attachment in the same box. Being an expedition size they tried to keep everything as small and compact as possible to be easier to transport in the field. The transit is factory fitted with a mount on the top of the scope to accept the solar attachment. Solar attachments gave the user a very exact way to determine their exact location using the sun and the horizon. They were especially useful here in the west or in places where large deposits of ore could affect the magnetic compass allowing for mistakes in the work being performed.
The mahogany box for the transit shows just a few minor scuffs from storage. All motions are free and turn as they should. The optics are perfect and exhibit no cloudiness or other problems. The crosshairs 1 vertical, 3 horizontal, and 2 crossed in the middle are present. The compass needle works, and measures 2 1/2" long. .
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FHC-5076-ST1
Excellent . . . . . . . $4750.00
C.
L. Berger & Sons Solar Transit w/ Pearson's Patent Solar Attachment
This C. L. Berger & Sons solar transit dates from right
around the turn of the century. It is marked on the compass face "C. L. Berger
& Sons Successors to Buff & Berger Boston". The serial # is 3249 which would
date this from right around the turn of the century, and just after the breakup
of the original Buff & Berger Firm in 1898. From available company records this transit
was originally sold with the shown solar attachment.
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The compass is very nice and operates properly. The compass face measures approx 5" and the silvered needle just over 4". The horizontal vernier is silvered and in excellent condition. The transit itself stands just over 12" tall, and the scope is approx 11" long. All motions are free and turn freely. The brass finish has developed a very nice patina.
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The transit focuses and the crosshairs consist of three horizontals and one vertical. The image is not inverted. At the eyepiece end it seems there is cap missing, and the adjustment to bring the crosshairs into focus is tight / stiff. The half circle vernier is silvered and reads to 30 degrees. The half circle vernier has a slight bend of about 2 degrees on the right side, as if it had been bumped at some point. It still rides freely and reads from the scale just fine. It has a 3 1/4 inch tripod mount and I do not have the tripod. Different makers utilized different styles of solar attachments and Buff & Berger adopted the Pearson Patent Solar Attachment. The patent for the Pearson solar attachment was granted in 1882 about the same time as most other patents for these rare & unusual devices called solar attachments were issued. The Pearson patent, like the Saegmuller utilized a telescopic sight. Because of its design and the way it mounts this solar attachment uses the transits frame and settings for its set up. The Burt solar attachment and other top mounted style solar attachments had their own adjusters. This Pearson patent solar attachment appears to be NOS and retains nearly 100% of it original finish and Lacquer. It is marked on the inside of the attachment Buff & Berger which means it was made just before the transit and before the original Buff & Berger Co. broke up. It is stamped with the #3 which may be its serial # or an assembly #. The focus is crisp and the crosshairs present. As can be seen in the pics there is a dark lens cap, and a sun shade as well. There are places in the box these can be mounted to.
The transit has the proper box, and the cosmetic condition of it is pretty nice. There are several paper labels inside including instructions on what to and not to do. There is no place in the box for the attachment, but as i stated earlier, company records indicate the transit and attachment were originally sold together.
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This style and form of transit with this unusual solar attachment was not widely distributed and thus is quite rare. Over the years I have seen dozens of Burt Style solar attachments offered for sale on Gurley and other make transits. I have seen and had a handful of the Saegmuller solar attachments that K & E, Lietz, and Dietzgen used, and I have even seen several of the later Smith patent solar attachment offered for sale, but this is the first Pearson solar attachment by this patentee and maker that I have had or seen offered. It will make a great addition to the collection of rare scientific or surveying related antiques.
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TW-BST-1
Excellent . . . . . . $3950.00 SPECIAL SALE $3500.00
Keuffel
& Esser #5081 1/2 C Mining Transit w/ Auxiliary Scope
This is a super nice Keuffel & Esser Paragon Mining transit. The # 5081 1/2
C is designated as a mining transit, and it is specially designed to accept a secondary
scope that mounts either to the top of the main scope or to the outboard side as
shown in the pics. Mining transits with these secondary scopes are very unusual
and hard to come by. This mining transits serial # is 133021 indicating it was made in the 50's. The black matt finish is near perfect. It shows little signs of use and just a few minor box scuffs at high points to the finish. The optics are crisp and clear. The fitted box is nice as well, and set up to accept the auxiliary scope and weight you see.
The main scope is 10" long and has a 20 power magnification. The horizontal limb is 5 1/2" and graduated to half degrees. It has double vernier windows set to 30 degrees that read to a minute. The compass needle is approx 3 1/2" and is gold plated. It functions
properly. All motions are free and turn smoothly. The rear eyepiece
focus works well.. The 4 1/2" vertical circle is graduated on silver and also
reads to a minute. The auxiliary scope is 6 5/8" long and 14 power. It is designed to mount either to the top of the scope or just outside the standards on the side.
Mining transits were used in situations where the operator had to shoot down vertical shafts or odd angles and the horizontal plate would interfere. When mounted on either the top or side it projected past the plate to allow the user to shoot that line. Different manufacturers used different approaches to solve the problem, and K & E used the two point attachment system with counterweight which allowed for different setups in different situations. Others include the Buff version where the scope could be released and moved into another position. There is also a version with a leaning frame to allow for the same effect.
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BM-KEMT-1
Excellent . . . . . $3750.00
Keuffel & Esser # 5076 Light Mountain Transit
w/ Saegmuller Solar Attachment
This K & E 5076
Solar Transit an early,
rare, and desirable American Surveying Instrument. The
superb condition
and completeness of this wonderful
K & E transit w/ its Saegmuller solar attachment is second to none. Note all the accessories inside the door are present, including the
magnifier, brush, plumb bob, adjusters, and even the oil can, which you never see.
It also has 2 sunshades, and the right angle aux eyepiece for the main
scope. Keuffel & Esser or K & E began operations in the mid 1870's as a partnership between 2 brothers. The company was founded in NJ and were quite well known for both their surveying instruments as well as their line of drafting supplies and slide rules. There is a short and interesting bio on the firm, and the introduction of this style of transit with its distinctive twisted leg standard at the Smithsonian site. Here is a link to that info.
This transit has an 9" scope and is designated as a Light Mountain model. Only the Expedition model transit with its 6' scope is smaller. This particular example dates from the early 1900's has a serial # of 11287. The number on the box tag matches. It is factory fitted with a mount on the top of the scope to accept the #5090 solar attachment. There is a dedicated mount on the wooden board to accept the # 5090 solar attachment that K & E manufactured when not in use or for storage and transport. Solar attachments gave the user a very exact way to determine their exact location using the sun and the horizon. They were especially useful here in the west or places where large deposits of ore could affect the magnetic compass allowing for mistakes in the work being performed.
The Smithsonian has a near identical solar transit in their collection, and that example can be viewed here along with the write-up they have for it.
It is a wonder that something that was made with the intention to be used in the field could be in such exceptional condition nearly 100 years later. This transit came out of a foothill community here in northern CA and was obviously stored in a dry and clean environment for the last 100 years. The box shows just a few minor scuffs from storage. The clear green lacquer finish on the transit is near perfect. All motions are free and turn as they should. The optics are perfect and exhibit no cloudiness or other problems. The crosshairs 1 vertical, 3 horizontal, and 2 crossed in the middle are present. It will be a long time before another example in as nice condition appears if ever.
The tripod size is 3 1/2 x 8. A very nice and proper tripod is available separately for $200.
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FHC-5076-ST1
Excellent . . . . . . . $4295.00 SPECIAL SALE $3950.00
Knox
& Shain Surveyors / Engineers Transit The partnership of Knox
and Shain was begun in the 1850's. The Smithsonian sight says they opened
their shop in 1850, while the bio on them in Smarts says they were first listed
together in the Philadelphia directories in 1855. The serial # on the compass
face is 900. It is not known if this number reflects the date from the beginning
of this partnership, or from the time Knox left the employ of Young and opened his
own shop some years earlier. This transit though has the look and fell of
an instrument that dates from the 1860's to 1880's. The Smithsonian
site mentions that Knox & Shain instruments look similar to Young's transits because
both partners worked for him in the past. The information there goes on to
say they bought the dividing engine of Jesse Ramsden, an early English maker of
surveying and other scientific instruments. . This surveyor's transit is in good condition. It stands just about 11" tall to the top of the 5" vertical circle which reads to 30 degrees. This transit is from an era when the leveling base remained with the tripod, which we do not have. There is no place for it in the box. which is OK. The box is dirty and has been re-glued where it split at some point in the past but has a great look and a lot of character.
The compass is a gold finish and works properly. The needle is 5" and the transit measures approx 7" across. The silvered horizontal vernier is inside under the glass and operates as it should. All other knobs and motions are free as well. All three level bubbles are full and appear to be original. The optics are clear, and it focuses well, but there do not seem to be any cross hairs if there ever were any.
This Knox & Shain is a very early transit, by a relatively rare and obscure maker from Philadelphia one of the hubs of early technology manufacturing in America. This transit will make for a great showpiece on display in the collection or any other setting.
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PA-KNSH-T1
Good+ . . . . . . . $SOLD!
Buff
& Buff Engineers Transit This
is a nice looking surveying instrument by one of the best known and highly
respected surveying and scientific instrument makers in 19th century America. George Buff studied under and made instruments
for a number of other makers before going into business for himself in the 1860's. After
the partnership of Buff & Berger dissolved in the 1890's he formed the company Buff & Buff in New York
with his sons and this company
remained in business until 1980 or so.This instruments basic design and features were their mainstay and this style transit was produced for over 70 years from the research I have seen. The condition is very nice with nearly all of the original golden brass finish intact. The optics are fine. The serial # 26556 would date this from approx 1920 or so. A patent date can be seen in the close-up of the compass face, which also shows how nice the finish is. The half circle vernier is silvered and very nice. All motions are operable and there is no damage anywhere to speak of. A super nice looking transit in super nice condition ready for the display, or to be put back into service.
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SH-BAB-GT
Good + . . . . . . . $695.00 SOLD!
William
Stackpole Surveyors / Engineers Transit This surveyor's transit
is in good condition. Stackpole & Brother was a relatively early New York surveying
instrument maker and began operations in the mid 1800's. The box as
shown in the pics is pretty nice as well. The bubbles are all good.
The compass is nice and the needle swings freely. The company name and location
are on the compass face under the glass and pictured below. The optics are
clear, and the crosshairs (3h & 1v) are good. Stackpole produced a quality
product and this transit is no exception. Note the positioning of the tangent lock.
The green lacquer finish is 90% or better and looks great Those areas
that were not lacquered have a nice even patina. The Smithsonian site has a bio on the brothers who formed the company, and they have several of their instruments in their collection.
See below for some of the info from the Smithsonian site.
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AH-Stran-1
Good+ . . . . . . . $950.00
Stackpole
William Stackpole (1819–1895) and Robert Stackpole (1823–1873) were Irish immigrants who arrived in the United States in 1833. Trading as Stackpole & Brother, they began making mathematical instruments in 1851. During the Civil War, they made spyglasses and sextants for the Navy. Each Stackpole instrument is marked with a serial number, and the sale of instrument #655 in 1866 suggests that the firm averaged some 44 instruments per year. According to the 1870 Census of Industry, the Stackpoles had $12,000 invested in the firm, hired eleven men and two children, and were then producing 250 surveying and nautical instruments worth $26,900. In the early 1870s they made astronomical transit instruments for the American expeditions sent to observe the transit of Venus. The firm remained in business until 1910.
Hildebrand
Freiberg Surveyors / Engineers Theodolite / Transit This
precision Theodolite is by Hilderberg Freiberg a well know and respected optical
instrument maker that was begun in the 18th century in Germany as Freiberg and evolved
and changed names over a period of time to what it is now. You can visit their present
website here.The name Hilderberg became associated with the company in 1872 and Hilderberg Freiberg company was in operation until the Russians took control of the plant at the end of WWII. The only place this precision instrument is marked with the company name is on the handle of the case. There is also a stylized logo & number on the instrument itself which probably would help date it for those with access to that info. This instrument dates from somewhere near the turn of
the century up to
the time of WWII when the Russians took over the plant. It is interesting to
note the Japanese writing on the outside of the case and the "military" colored
tan finish of the tripod would lead one to believe it was sold to and used by
the Japanese military prior to or during WWII. The instrument itself is in great
condition and is as complete as one could imagine or hope for. All of the level
bubbles are good. All of the fitted holes in the internal carry case / tray are
full
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and this instrument was designed to be locked into the case on the base to withstand all sorts of travel bumps and abuse. All of the tiny magnifiers over the vernier scales are present.
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There is a striding level, an auxiliary compass, plumb bob, counterweight, and even a small wind up tape in feet / metric with Japanese writing. The tripod is nice, proper, and the instrument has the proper 3 point leveling base for it. There are also additional parts and pieces stored on the door, like an extra eyepiece, sunshade, and right angle eyepiece. The optics are clear and the cross hairs present. It is a very nice looking and graphic instrument to add to several different focus collections.
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GM-THEO-1
Good+ . . . . . . $SOLD!!
Keuffel & Esser 5085 Engineers Transit
This is a large & nice looking Engineers transit that dates from 1908.
The serial
# 17657 which is found on the plate outside the compass. There are two patent dates from near the turn of the century stamped there
as well. This was the largest size transit that K & E produced and is listed in their catalogs as an Engineers Transit. This transit has K & E's distinctive twisted leg standards that were promoted as being stronger and superior to their earlier A frame design in the catalog write-ups. They give the instrument a very graphic look and interesting look the way one is twisted in the front and one in the rear and opposite from side to side. I believe K & E only used this design for 10 - 15 years and were phased out around 1913 or so
It is in overall very nice condition and has 98% or more of the black matt finish on the upper portions, and a gloss black finish on the lower base. The scope measures 11 1/2" long. It has a 4 1/2" gold plated needle, and the silvered compass face is super clean. There is no discoloration or corrosion here at all. It appears that one of the small level vials has been changed out at some point, and there is a repair tag inside the box that would indicate that this was a factory repair. It is equipped with a half circle vernier and the readout is to the rear of one leg and graduated to 15 degrees. The horizontal vernier are graduated to 30 degrees. The small opaque shades for them are missing but are an easy fix. .
All screws and motions move freely and as they should. The optics are clear and clean and there is one vertical and three horizontal crosshairs. The base measures 3 1/2" x 8. The tripod is proper and nice, noting that one leg bracket has a crack in the brass. There are two of these on each leg so it is still operational. The transit weighs over 16 lbs and has a commanding presence. It is an ideal size for display and it is a great looker with its near perfect finishes. A nice piece.
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BW-KE5085-1
Excellent . . . . . . $895.00 SOLD!!
Tripod . . . . Good . . . . . $100.00 w/ purchase of transit
Fennel
/ Kassel Builders Transit / Level This is a quality
transit / level made by the well known German firm Fennel / Kassel. The box
is marked West Germany which would date this as post WWII. It looks a lot
like the David White Builders transit I use to use for general layout, corners,
and grades. This instrument is set up much the same with a positive lock for
the level / grade function, and just one level vial below the scope to set up.
Everything about the transit is nice, and I believe it is ready to go
back to work. The box needs a new clap / latch, but is otherwise
OK. It takes a standard 3 1/2 x 8 tripod.
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CLM-svt-1
Good+ . . . . . . $195.00 SOLD!
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