Keuffel & Esser / K & E Transits
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
W. & L. E. Gurley Instruments
Transits / Levels / Alidades & Compasses
W. & L. E. Gurley
Expedition Size Alidade in Leather Covered Box
The serial # of 272026 would date this from 1927. It is in good condition. Crosshairs present, optics good. Good bubble. Compass
works. All motions are free and smooth. The scope is approx. 10" long. The box is solid and shows age
and wear. Nice!!
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SR-G-ALI-27
Good + . . . . . . $175.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
W. & L. E. Gurley High Post Alidade in Box The serial # of 521532 would
date this from 1952. It is in very good condition. Black crinkle finish on scope is good. Crosshairs are present, optics good.
Good bubble. Trough Compass works. All motions are free and smooth. The scope is approx. 10" long.
The box is nice and solid. No key. Nice!!
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GV-G-HPALI-52
Good + . . . . . . $195.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
Transits / Theodolites by
Young / Buff / Berger / Dietzgen
/ Lietz & Misc. Makers
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
G. W. Wilson Concord New Hampshire c. 1877 Transit
This unusual Engineer size Surveying transit is in
very nice condition. Smarts book has a short Bio on G. W. Wilson, an
early New England maker, but scant other info comes up with Google searches.
He is not in the Smithsonian 's list of makers, nor listed in the Compass
Makers Directory.Note the very unusual pillar style round standards. They have a great look and are a near unique feature for transits. All the bubbles are good. Compass points north and the compass face is nicely engraved. Nice even patina. You must view the pics to see how nice and different this instrument is from the typical instruments from this era. The compass is clearly marked with the maker name and location as well as the 1877 date. A nice piece that will fit into many different collections.
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TMK-WILSON-T
Good + . . . . . . . $1995.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
William
Young ALUMINUM Transit An
unusual and nice example of William Young's work. Young is credited
with producing the first surveying instruments known as transits in the 1830s.
The serial # of this transit is in the 8000s thus dating it from shortly
after the turn of the century and before Young sold out to K & E in 1918
or so.The use of Aluminum in surveying instruments, because of the light weight and being non-magnetic is quite unusual on instruments this early. Aluminum was still a relatively new material to work with and had drawbacks in use. It was soft, and at this point in time was pretty brittle and prone to cracking. As can be seen some parts are in brass as well, and the contrasting materials, and finishes, give it a very pleasing look.
The transit has been cleaned and adjusted. The motions are OK noting some stiffness in the main plate. Good optics w/ crosshairs. It comes in the original box. The fixed leg wooden tripod, with an Aluminum head, is included as well.
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ALA-YOUNG-AT
Fine . . . . . $1100.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
Queen & Co. Aluminum Transit
w/ Tripod This is an
unusual light mountain size Aluminum transit by the well known PA maker
Queen & Co. Aluminum transits by any maker from this period are pretty
unusual. According to information
provided by the well known surveying instrument collector Mike Beal, it is only the 2nd known Aluminum
transit known by Queen. The serial # is 5505. It weighs a
mere XXXX. Similar instruments in brass would weigh close to twice as
much. The scope is 8" long and the plate measures approx. 5 1/2. The needle is 4". The compass face has a great looking patterned finish that is very unusual. It also has an unusual 3/4 vertical arc as opposed to a full circle or 1/2 circle that one would normally see. Another unusual feature is the tripod mount. It is a clamp on style as opposed to the typical threaded mount. The optics and crosshairs are good. All motions are free. Bubbles good. It has a great look with its near all aluminum construction and just the screws and a few aux. pieces in brass. An interesting and nice condition instrument for the collection that will make for a nice display piece.
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GV-QUEEN-ALUM
Good + . . . . . . $1100.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
Young
& Sons No. 10 Aluminum Transit w/ Smith Solar Attachment This is a rare Young solar transit with an unusual
Smith Patent Telescopic Solar attachment. This transit is called off as No. 10 in an early Young catalogs. The patent for the solar attachment was
first granted in 1880. This example is an improved model that was patented in 1902. The
8513 serial number on the compass face indicates it dates from shortly
after the turn of the century. It has a 4½" horizontal circle, a 4" silvered vertical circle, a 3.3" needle, and a 10" main telescope. The brass telescope on the Smith solar unit is 7" long, and is inscribed "Pat Sep 16, 1902." There is a counterweight that mounts on the standard opposite the side with the solar unit. All motions are free and move smoothly. The compass works as it should. Note that there is a vernier scale on the outside plate, and another under the glass.
Young's use of Aluminum for many of the different parts of the transit is very unusual for an instrument from this time period. Although quite a bit lighter than Brass it was also quite brittle and prone to crack. Its formulation had not yet been perfected to alleviate that problem. There has been a repair done to an aluminum part of the leveling head that can be seen from the bottom. A brass ring has been epoxied to the aluminum bell shaped housing part of the leveling head as it was cracked. That seems to have fixed the problem and it mounts to a tripod with no issues. The transit fits into the lift top box with the solar attachment in place. The box shows age but is OK. The proper tripod is available for an additional $200.00.
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GV-YOUNG-STRAN
Good + . . . . . . $2750.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
Breithaupt & Sohn Cassel Theodolite
This small transit / theodolite was manufactured in approx. 1898 by F. W. Breithaupt & Sohn,
in Cassel, Germany (today's 'Kassel'). The scope is 8 1/4" long. The total height is 12". The magnetic
compass is 3" diameter, with a 360 degree silver ring. The needle is 2" long. It seems complete, including the
double vernier vertical circle w/ magnifiers. Bubble levels are good. It has a
three leg leveling head and beveled limb or plate. A beautiful instrument that will display well. Nice!!
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GV-CASSEL
Good + . . . . . . $675.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
Surveying / Surveyor
Compasses / Solar Compasses /
Telescopes
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 + . . . . . . $16,500.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
W.
& L. E. Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass Despite
the fact I have two listed, 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 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.
The overall condition of this Aluminum Solar Compass is very nice. Both level vials are good. The trough compass works properly. Inside the original fitted box in the top compartment are fittings to hold an auxiliary scope that is not present. All motions and adjustments turn freely. There is an original counterweight attached to the display board. The aluminum sight vanes fit perfectly. This Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass is truly an amazing 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
William Young
Surveyor / Surveying Compass William
Young was an early well known Pennsylvania instrument maker. This compass is a
pretty nice example with a nice even unpolished patina. It is a pre
Civil War era piece dating from the 1850s. The serial number
found on the compass face is 3318. There is no box. The one apology is the
circular level vial is
dry. Some of the pics show it w/o the glass or needle as there was
a lot of glare w/ them in place. A nice display piece. Click for Pic Click for Pic Click for Pic Click for Pic Click for Pic
AMN-YNG-COMP
Good . . . . . . . $495.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
Misc.
Plain Tables - Sextants etc..
Lutz Tripod & Plane Table w/ Case These
are like new and appear to have never been used. Probably
government surplus or from a school engineering program.
There is a NSN number on the canvas case, but it means nothing to me. Nice!!
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GV-PLN-TBL
Fine . . . . . . $395.00
To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com
We buy quality Antiques in this and other categories of Antiques.
To view examples of the types of antiques and collectibles we have previously sold
and are always interested in buying please visit our
Past Sales Archive Pages at our sister website
www.AntiqBuyer.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