This is just a sample of the many antiques we have sold. Click link to see other Sales Archive Pages on this Site.

We can help you sell quality Antiques  Contact Us.

For further info on consigning / selling your antiques with us please see our FAQ page, the Appraisal / Selling Page and the Selling Your Collection Pages.

Our current offering of Antiques for sale are at our sister Website Patented-Antiques.com.

W. L. & E. Gurley #100 Reconnaissance Transit   This transit was offered by Gurley and was designed to be carried into the field where weight and bulk were primary considerations.  The instrument with the leather covered box and smaller than usual tripod could be more easily carried in the field.    This particular instrument also came equipped with the seldom seen Beaman Stadia Arc which was designed first in 1904 and issued a patent in 1906.  It was offered by Gurley as an accessory that could be attached to the vertical circle of instruments to help simplify and speed up the figuring of elevations and other Stadia related work.  This instrument dates from very close to this date, and like many Gurley instruments carries no serial # thus making exact dating a task at times.

There is a very nice and informative site on the Internet called The Virtual Museum of Survey History than has dating charts for many of the major makers of surveying instruments if you need help determining the age of an instrument that you have.

All motions on this transit move freely and the compass operation is flawless. The silvered compass face is in excellent condition as well.    The leveling bubbles are all good. The overall finish, a bronzed or green lacquer has some chips and scrapes but in general looks good and is original.

W. L. & E. Gurley of Troy New York was the dominant force in the manufacture and distribution of quality surveying instruments from the time of their inception in the mid 1800's thru today.  Their name has always been associated with top of the line quality throughout their history, and the instruments they manufactured to help build America are second to none.  This size transit is not seen often and  is offered for sale even less often.  Be sure to take a look at all the pictures, including the ones of the leather covered box.  The box itself is nice, but the top leather portion has become detached and is missing.  What remains is nice, but has several sewn seams that are coming undone.   A nice instrument that will display nicely or be a great addition to the collection.

Good + . . . . .  $950.00       SOLD

W. L. & E. Gurley #100 Reconnaissance Transit   Here is another similar to the one above in a different finish. There is no serial # so it dates prior to 1908.  This size transit was offered by Gurley to be carried into the field where weight and bulk were primary considerations.  The box is nice, and overall it is in excellent condition.  A nice instrument that will display nicely or be a great addition to the collection.

Good + . . . . .  $1050.00       SOLD

W. & L. E Gurley #28 Light Mountain Transit  This transit is in very nice condition and dates from 1913 as evidenced by the serial number on the face of the engraved compass.  Dating Gurley instruments can sometimes be a challenge as they did not always have serial #s as a guide.  Often times the vintage of a piece has to be determined by minor changes in construction or design features, or from something as innocuous as the picture of the factory that was often included in the box which was changed over the years as the company grew and prospered.  Also determining the exact model # can be challenging as well as such small differences as the configuration of the vertical Vernier, or scale could change the number.  This transit looks like a #27 also and could well be one.  There is a very nice and informative site on the Internet called The Virtual Museum of Survey History than has dating charts for many of  the major makers of surveying instruments if you need help determining the age of an instrument that you have. 

W. L. & E. Gurley of Troy New York was the dominant force in the manufacture and distribution of quality surveying instruments from the time of their inception in the mid 1800's thru today.  Their name has always been associated with top of the line quality throughout their history, and the instruments they manufactured to help build America are second to none.

All motions on this transit move freely and the compass operation is flawless. The silvered compass face is in excellent condition as well. The leveling bubbles are all good. The overall finish has a nice even patina and there are no major detractions or problems with the condition of the super piece.

Note: the plumb bob at the base, it is one of the unusual internal reel models and is being sold separately and is not included. Be sure to take a look at all the pictures, including the one of the leather covered box that this size instrument and the smaller Explorer model came in as they were meant to be carried into the field. It is nice, but has several sewn seams that are coming undone.   A nice instrument that will display nicely or be a great addition to the collection.

Good . . . . .  $950.00       SOLD

W. & L. E Gurley #12 Engineers Transit   This large transit is in very nice original condition and dates from before the turn of the century or  as far as I can determine.  This simple model was offered by Gurley and has no vertical circle or even a means to lock the scope in place. Note that there is no long level under the scope as one would expect, and this is proper for the #12.   According to the catalogs I have this is proper, but they give no explanation or rational for this or where or when such a set-up would be used.

Gurley has been in the surveying instrument business since the mid 1800's and unlike many other scientific instrument makers, they only sporadically used serial #'s as a means to date or record the manufacture of their instruments.  The scope on this instrument is 11.5 inches long, and the needle on the compass is over 5".    There is a very nice and informative site on the Internet called The Virtual Museum of Survey History than has dating charts for many of  the major makers of surveying instruments, as well as a wealth of other information if you need help determining the age of or history of an instrument that you have.

Good . . . . .  $795.00       SOLD

W. & L. E Gurley #76 Surveyor's / Architects Transit   This large Surveyor's transit is in very nice original condition and dates from near the turn of the century or before as far as I can determine.  Gurley has been in the surveying instrument business since the mid 1800's and unlike many other scientific instrument makers, they never, or only sporadically used serial #'s as a means to date or record the manufacture of their instruments.  The scope on this instrument is 11.5 inches long, and the needle on the compass is over 5".   The serial number on the face of the silvered & engraved compass is 9662.  Dating Gurley instruments can sometimes be a challenge as they did not always have serial #s as a guide, and if not from after 1908 then the serial # is not able to be matched exactly to a given date.  After 1908 the first two digits were typically the year of manufacture, but this is not the case with a serial # from before then.. Often times the vintage of a piece has to be determined by minor changes in construction or design features, or from something as innocuous as the picture of the factory that was often included in the box which was changed over the years as the company grew and prospered.

Even determining the exact model # can be a challenge as such small differences as the configuration of the vertical Vernier, or scale could change the model number of the transit.  This transit looks like a #76 in the illustrations of the catalog I am looking in, but could be some other designation.  Because of its size and design though, there is no doubt that is the designation of a Architects transit given it has no vertical circle.  The optics are clear, crosshairs present, and the motions are all free   The box is nice as well but as is typical shows some signs of use and age.

There is a very nice and informative site on the Internet called The Virtual Museum of Survey History than has dating charts for many of  the major makers of surveying instruments, as well as a wealth of other information if you need help determining the age of or history of an instrument that you have.

Good . . . . .  $1150.00       SOLD

W. & L. E Gurley #16 Surveyor's / Engineers Transit  This large Engineers transit is in good original condition.  It has developed a rich dark patina.  It is very similar the one pictured above with the addition of a half vertical circle.  Gurley has been in the surveying instrument business since the mid 1800's and unlike many other scientific instrument makers they only sporadically used serial #'s as a means to date or record the manufacture of their instruments.  The scope on this instrument is 11.5 inches long, and the needle on the compass is 5".   Often times the vintage of a piece has to be determined by minor changes in construction or design features, or from something as innocuous as the picture of the factory that was often included in the box which was changed over the years as the company grew and prospered.  Even determining the exact model # can be a challenge as such small differences as the configuration of the vertical Vernier, or scale could change the model number of the transit.  This transit looks like a #16 in the illustrations of the catalog I am looking in, but could be some other designation.  Because of its size and design though, there is no doubt that is the designation of a Engineers transit given the vertical circle.  The optics are clear, crosshairs present, and the motions are all free but a bit stiff   The box is OK but as is typical shows signs of use and age.

Good . . . . .  $1050.00       SOLD

W. & L. E Gurley Surveyor's Transit   This large surveying transit is in very nice original condition and dates from before the turn of the century, and is somewhat earlier than the model above.  It has many of the same features as the one above, and I believe they would be the same model number, just from a different era.  The most noticeable differences between the two are the configuration of the standards, this one having the earlier straight A frame, and the fact that the bottom leveling base is detachable and stores separately in the box unlike later models where it is all one unit.  I do not know the exact time frame for these different changes, but they are indicative of an earlier instrument that probably dates from the 1880's or perhaps a bit earlier.    The optics are clear, crosshairs present, and the motions are all free   The box is nice as well but as is typical shows some signs of use and age.

Good . . . . .  $850.00       SOLD

Gurley Engineers Transit   The needle is 4" long and the scope is 8 3/4" long. Overall the transit is approx. 12" tall.  This transit was cleaned and buffed a few years ago, and is beginning to mellow back to a less shiny state. There is a small plaque attached that says that this was once #11 of the Tenn. Highway Dept. I would guess that it dates from the early part of the last century. It comes in its original wood dovetailed box, that someone has added newer hook type hasps to as the key is gone. The tripod was refinished as well and looks great. This super looking piece displays very nicely, and will look great set up in the office or den.

Good . . . . .  $850.00       SOLD

W. & L. E. Gurley Surveyor's Transit This compact little Gurley transit is by the best known and most renowned maker of surveying instruments that ever produced instruments in America. The level bubbles / vials are all good, the compass needles swings freely as it should. It seems to be fully functional, and the main detraction is the lack of finish on the aluminum protective shroud covering the vertical Vernier on the side. It is a later instrument from those above, as evidenced by the style and finish, and probably dates from after WWII. It is in as found condition and has not been cleaned or adjusted. The Mahogany box has been repaired ( as can be seen in the pics) but looks OK. It will make a nice display piece, or a good user, but I have not used it myself or tested it.

Good . . . . .  $395.00       SOLD

W& L. E. Gurley Mountain & Mining Transit w/ Burt Solar Attachment   This form of surveying instrument, a transit equipped with a factory Solar Attachment or auxiliary mining scope is one of the most desirable and sought after of all surveying related devices ever offered.  The idea was that in certain areas the magnetic deviation was so great and the errors it could cause so great that these unusual and significant devices were developed as a way to compensate for this effect, and enabled the user to find a true reference or location using the horizon and the position of the sun instead of the standard methods employing just the compass. Even though the concept has been around for many years very few of them were actually made for use in the field.  Each major company that made surveying instruments had a version of their transit that came equipped with one form or another of these devices. The two best known names in this field were Gurley and Keuffel & Esser, but Berger, Buff, Dietzgen and others offered them as well for their instruments.  Different attachments were known by the name of the inventor, and the versions designed and developed by Sagemuller, Smith, & Burt being the best know attachments.     This instrument is in very nice overall condition and dates from the early part of the last century. The serial number on it indicates the date of manufacture as being 1913. It has never been cleaned and the brass has a wonderful mellow patina. Gurley was located in Troy New York at this time, and their reputation for the manufacture of quality instruments was unsurpassed.  The box and leather covering are nice as well noting some of the sewn seams coming undone and the small straps showing wear.  This Solar Transit is surely one of the most striking and graphic of forms of surveying instrument that are available not to mention one of the most avidly sought.  Rarely seen or offered for sale one of these instruments will move your collection to the head of the line.

Good . . . . .  $2850.00       SOLD

W& L. E. Gurley Mountain & Mining Solar Transit w/o Attachment   This Gurley light mountain transit is designed to accept a Burt Solar Attachment and has the mounting post for the solar attachment, but it is long gone.    The box and leather covering are nice.  This Solar Transit is surely one of the most striking and graphic of forms of surveying instrument that are available not to mention one of the most avidly sought.  Rarely seen or offered for sale one of these instruments will move your collection to the head of the line if you have the missing piece.  .

Good . . . . .  $1250.00       SOLD

BACK

This is just a sample of the many antiques we have sold. Click link to see other Sales Archive Pages on this Site.

We can help you sell quality Antiques  Contact Us.

For further info on consigning / selling your antiques with us please see our FAQ page, the Appraisal / Selling Page and the Selling Your Collection Pages.

Our current offering of Antiques for sale are at our sister Website Patented-Antiques.com.

This website is Copyrighted
(1998 - 2009)
Larry & Carole Meeker