Antique & Vintage
Surveying / Surveyor Instruments & Tools

K & E / Keuffel & Esser c. 1919 # 5074 Engineers Mountain & Mining Transit  This model and style transit with its unusual 3 screw leveling base is very unusual. In catalogs it gets an asterisk with explanation that it is only available through special order. K & E called this style of transit off as "Extra Fine" & The serial # is 38611 dating it from 1920 or so.  The tag on the door says the needle is calibrated for Buenos Aries Argentina. There is a tag on the box that also indicates it came from South America. Note that it has 2 auxiliary magnifiers to allow for a more precise reading of the extra fine scales on the different vernier scales.

All motions and thumbscrews operate smoothly. The silvered compass face is near flawless, and the 3 3/4" compass needle swings north. The black oxidized finish is mostly fine. All three level bubbles are good and appear to be original. The optics are clear and good.

There are a few minor apologies. The door on the box has been remounted on the opposite side of the opening. Not sure why and no apparent reason. There is one vertical and 2 horizontal crosshairs. One crosshair above the center horizontal crosshair is broken or unattached. Also, the protective outer cover or guard for the vertical circle / vernier scale is cracked. I see no damage to the wheel itself. Finally, there is a small dent on the end of the scope as pictured.

This rare & desirable surveying instrument will be a highlight of the well rounded surveying instrument collection and will display very nicely in any number of settings.

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ARG-KE-5074

Good +  . . . . . . $750.00

To Order Email:  patentedantiques@gmail.com

Transits / Theodolites by
Young / Buff / Berger / Dietzgen / Lietz & Misc. Makers

A. Lietz Mining Transit w/ Auxiliary Scope This Lietz Mining Transit is in very good overall condition. The A. Lietz Co. of San Francisco stopped making instruments around the beginning of WWII and opened up shop shortly before the turn of the century. The name info is under the glass below the north point on the compass face. The serial # is 6402. Records indicate it dates from 1914.

Note how the both ends of the scope axles have threaded caps for mounting a second scope and counterweight on the opposite side. There are also attachment points on the top and bottom of the scope. The black finish is 90% or better and the brass areas have a nice even patina. The optics are OK, and crosshairs present. The box is present and nice. It will display very nicely and has a great patina and graphic look to it. Nice!!

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GV-LIETZ-MINE

Good +  . . . . . . $2250.00

To Order Email:  patentedantiques@gmail.com

European Brass Theodolite / Transit w/ Beveled Limb and Magnifiers  An interesting looking Surveying Theodolite / Transit in nice cosmetic condition. It is unmarked as to maker but has an European look and features. It came from a fellow who mostly collected microscopes. His son told us this had been on the dining room table since the 1970s.

There is no box or case. Most of the motions are stiff from 50 years of dust having settled in. The cross hairs are present, and consist of an X with several vertical and horizontal lines. The optics are OK. The different level bubbles are good. The small magnifiers are good, and needed to read the scales they are so fine. It has a beveled silver limb typical of European instruments but was also offered on a rare Buff & Berger.

There are a couple empty screw holes on the scope. The mount at the base looks to be a quick mount feature where a 1/4 turn would lock it to the tripod once in place. A nice display piece.

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HG-B-THEO

Good +. . . . . 495.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

W. & L. E. Gurley & Others
Surveying / Surveyor
Compasses / Solar Compasses / Transits

W. & L. E. Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass  Gurley Aluminum Solar Compasses are amongst the rarest of the rare in antique surveying instruments. Gurley made an aluminum version of their solar compass for just a short period starting in the 1890s, and only a handful are known to exist or thought to have been produced.

Gurleys' use of Aluminum during this time period was very unusual.  Aluminum was a relatively new material whose characteristics had not been fully developed, understood, or been perfected. Aluminum from this period was very brittle and prone to crack. The finished compass, while much lighter than one made of brass, is also much more fragile.

One Aluminum Solar Compass came to market at Skinners Auction 15 or so years ago and brought over 17K. I was told it later sold privately for 60K. There is another example currently on eBay as of Sept 2020 priced at 24K. The author of that ad, a well known authority on antique surveying instruments states that his is one of only a few others known.  I had another collector tell me of a couple others he was aware of.

I went inside looking for a date or maker info. I saw no date info. The number 14 was stamped under the plate. The Burt Solar Attachment is also stamped # 14. It could be a serial # or have another explanation. There were some other marks and scratches inside, but they appeared to be reference marks related to assembly.

Inside the original fitted box, in the top compartment, is a dead mint 1920 Gurley Catalog and some other Gurley marked material from the same era. The catalog is still in the original mailing envelope. There are also some newspaper scraps used for packing that are dated 1920. I believe the compass itself dates from the 1890s, some 20 - 30 years earlier, and that the instrument with the 1920 catalog went into storage around 1920. 

The overall condition of this Aluminum Solar Compass is nice. Both level vials are good although one is blue and one clear. All motions and adjustments turn freely. There are two bases. One is a brass leveling head for use with a tripod, and one a brass knuckle joint for mounting the compass to a staff. The striding level is present as is the adjustment bar. The striding level is full, but appears to have a hairline crack in it.

There are also two small sight vane attachments with a fitted spot in the box. The tops of the brass sight vanes are different designs, one rounded and one w/ a peak. The cutouts, patina, and finish match on both. Note that the holes through the aluminum plate under both sight vanes have been slightly enlarged for some reason. This Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass is an amazing instrument that will fit into many different collections. A rare opportunity.

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RS-GUR-ASCOMP-3

Good  . . . . . . $15,000.00

To Order Email:  patentedantiques@gmail.com

W. & L. E. Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass The Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass is amongst the rarest of the rare, and most desirable and sought after of all antique surveying instruments. The overall condition of this Aluminum Solar Compass is very nice.

Gurley made an aluminum version of their solar compass for just a few years starting in the 1890s and only a handful are known to exist or thought to have been produced.

Gurleys use of Aluminum during this time period was very unusual as Aluminum was a relatively new material whose characteristics had not been fully developed, understood, or perfected. Aluminum from this period was very brittle and prone to crack. The finished compass, while much lighter than one made of brass, is also much more fragile.

I went inside this compass looking for dates or maker info. It is marked May 04. There are other marks as well, but I can not make them out. A code of sorts. There were some other marks and scratches inside, but they appeared to be reference marks related to assembly.

Inside the original fitted box, in the top compartment, are fittings to hold an auxiliary scope. The Gurley auxiliary scope with circular vernier scale that is presently fitted on the sight vane does not fit in the lid compartment. While the scope is by Gurley, and the proper type from the correct era, the box can not accommodate the circular vernier scale this scope has. The current scope was added later and so some of the many pics below show it without. It is offered as part of the unit now, and included in the price.

All motions and adjustments turn freely. There is an original counterweight attached to one sight vane that also has a place on the display board and in the box. The aluminum sight vanes fit perfectly. Both level vials are good. The trough compass works properly.

This Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass is truly an amazing and historically important instrument that will fit into many different collections. A rare opportunity.  

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AMN-G-SCOMP

Fine . . . . . . $18,500.00

To Order Email:  patentedantiques@gmail.com

Misc. Instruments
Tripods - Sextants - Alidades - Levels - Plain Tables etc.

Gordon Roberts Compascope Scope Surveying Level w/ Compass This instrument was marketed by Abercrombie & Fitch. The compass face of this unusual surveying instrument / level is a floating disc that has most of the info on it.

An interesting design instrument with the unusual added feature of a tiny flashlight like device to light it up for use on a "dull day or nightime" according to the instruction sheet. Complete with instructions and wooden box. Also included is the ebay write-up from 1999 when the collector first bought it.

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HG-COMP-SCOP

Good + . . . . . . $75.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

6 Wild GST20 Wood Tripods These Wild Surveying Instrument GST20 tripods are in good used condition.

A good candidate for a lamp base or other Steampunk application as well.

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LCM-LECI-TPOD

Good  . . . . . . $55.00 / Choice

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Wild GST20 Wood Tripod This Wild Surveying Instrument GST20 tripod is in good used condition. A good candidate for a lamp base or other Steampunk application as well.

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LCM-WILD-TPOD-16

Good  . . . . . . $55.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

5 Surveying Rods From the left.

First are a pair of 25" telescoping fiberglass rods.  One is marked Crain, (SOLD) and one Mound City. They are identical and by the same maker. Both look to be little used and have cloth cases.

Next is an extendable K & E / Keuffel & Esser Philadelphia Type C Rod that goes from 7' to 14'.

Next is a Lenker 72 AW "L E Vation" extendable rod in canvas case that is in like new condition. SOLD

And on the far right is a David White 7476 extendable rod.

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MOUND-1          CRAIN-1            KE-3          LENK-4          DW-5

Left to Right
Mound City - - - Good +. . . . . . 70.00
Crain - - - - -  Good +. . . . . . 70.00       SOLD!
K & E - - - - Good +. . . . . . 40.00
Lenker - - - - Good +. . . . . . 50.00       SOLD!!
David White - - - - - Good +. . . . . . 25.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Misc. Surveying Tools
Tripods / Plumb Bobs / Chains & More
for Architects / Engineers & Surveyors

Chesterman 100' Steel Link Chain This 100' Chesterman link chain is in very good overall condition. Handles are marked and tags are present. Light rust. The links are welded.

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AUC-C-100CHN

Good + . . . . . $175.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Keuffel & Esser / K & E 130' No. 12 Steel Link Chain This 130' K & E Steel link chain is in very good overall condition. Handles are marked and tags are present. Light rust. The links are welded indicating it is early. Kind of an odd length but then I am not a surveyor and do not really know.

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AUC-KE-130CHN

Good + . . . . . $295.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

4 Plumb Bobs All are pretty nice.  From the left. The large one in the box is a mis-match, Sokia in a K & E box.  The second one with reel is an unmarked Stanley No. 1.  The turnip is nice, and has a logo stamp on the side, and the 8 oz. K&E in box looks to be unused.

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HG-PB-1                   HG-PB-2              HG-PB-3      SOLD!!           HG-PB-4     SOLD!!

Left - Good + . . . . . $15.00 

Reel - Good + . . . . . $85.00

Turnip - Good + . . . . . $55.00     SOLD!!

K&E - Good + . . . . . $15.00     SOLD!!

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Drafting Sets & Tools

Hago / West Germany Drafting Set A post WWII German drafting set in very good condition.

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LA-HAGO-DS

Good + . . . . . . $24.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Survey / Surveying Instrument Catalogs
& Other Catalogues & Literature

A. Lietz San Francisco 1893 Catalog Nice!!

LCM-LIETZ-1893

Good + . . . . . $250.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

A. Lietz San Francisco 1899 Catalog Nice!!

LCM-LIETZ-1893

Good + . . . . . $250.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

1908 C. L. Berger & Sons Catalog Nice!!

LCM-1908-BERG

Good + . . . . . $150.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

1898 C. L. Berger & Sons "Successor to Buff & Berger"  The Buff & Berger partnership broke up in 1898 and so this is the 1st edition Berger Catalog. It is a rebranded Buff & Berger Catalog and carries all the products the partnership offered including the ultra rare Double Standard Mining transit offered as the centerfold. NOT A REPRINT!! Rare and Nice!!

LCM-1918-BERGER

Good + . . . . . $200.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

K & E / Keuffel & Esser 1921 Reprint Catalog   Nice!!

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GV-KE-RP

Good +. . . . . . $10.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

The Makers Of Surveying Instruments In America Since 1700 by Charles Smart A valuable reference. This is the foremost index of American Surveying Instrument Makers from the early 18th century to the mid 20th.  A must have for surveying instrument collectors.

Volume 1. Published by The Regal Art Press in Troy, New York in 1962. Hardcover, issued without dust jacket. 6.5 x 9.25 inches, 282 pages, approx. 50 b/w photographs and illustrations. Approximately 1,200 companies and individuals are listed, with their working dates, location, and company histories. Interior fine, some stains on cover.

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GV-SMART-BK

Good + . . . . . . $50.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Chaining The Land: A History Of Surveying In California By Francois D. Uzes  Francois D. Uzes began his surveying career in California in 1954. As head of the Boundry Determination Unit, he was responsible for inventorying, surveying, mapping and determining the boundaries of four and a half million acres of state-owned land. He was a collector of old surveying instruments, books and maps. He ran the website CompleteSurveyor, that his son Russ now operates. Contains appendices and an index, with black-and-white illustrations throughout. Nice!!

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GV-UZES-BK

Good +. . . . . . $30.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Dating Your Surveying Instrument

Here is a link to a website that can help you date your Transit / Level or other Surveyor's Instrument.
http://www.surveyhistory.org/how_old_is_my_instrument.htm