Larry and Carole Meeker

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Antique Surveying Instruments

 Transits / Levels & Compasses

Sales Archive

W. & L. E. Gurley #30  Light Mountain & Mining Transit w/ Burt Solar Attachment  This form of surveying instrument, a Gurley Light Mountain transit equipped with a factory accessory Burt Solar Attachment is one of the most desirable and sought after of all collectible surveying related devices ever manufactured or offered.  The idea behind these interesting and graphic instruments, and solar attachments was that in certain areas the magnetic deviation was so great, and the errors it could cause so great when doing surveys, that these  devices were developed as a way to compensate for this effect. Thus enabling 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 in the field.  Even though the concept had been around for many years, Burt drew the first patent in the early 1800's for his version which I believe were initially used on Young Solar compasses.  Each major company that made surveying instruments had a version of their transit that came equipped with one form or another of a solar attachment.  The two best known names in this field were Gurley and Keuffel & Esser, but Berger, Buff, Dietzgen, and others offered other version of a Solar Attachment to fit their transits as well.  Different attachments were typically known by the name of the inventor or Patentee, and the versions designed and developed by Sagemuller, Smith, Pearson, Davis & Burt being the best know of these solar attachments. Each company used at least one, and at times offered other versions to be used on their instruments.   

The above transit / instrument is in nice overall condition and dates from the early part of the last century.  The serial number on the compass face and the box match and it indicates the date of manufacture as being during the early 1900's..  It has never been cleaned and the brass has a wonderful mellow patina.  The optics are clear and the cross hairs are present.  All motions are free and work properly.  The compass is operational, and the needle original.  The compass face is nicely engraved and silvered.  It has the Burt Solar attachment, but there is no auxiliary side level that was offered as an additional accessory.  There is a place for this inside the box.  There is no striding level, another accessory which could be ordered separately. 

The Gurley manufacturing plant was located in Troy New York at this time, and their reputation for the manufacture of quality instruments was unsurpassed.  Histories for this company can be found at other sites on the internet dealing with the history of surveying in America.  Please see the links page for more info.   The box is OK, and there is no leather covering.  This transit  with a solar attachment is surely one of the most striking and graphic of forms of surveying instruments that are available, not to mention one of the most avidly sought for all surveying or other collections.  Rarely seen or offered for sale one of these instruments will move your collection and display to the head of the line.     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.      SOLD!!

 

C. L. Berger & Sons Engineer's Transit  The serial # is 17,502, and this would date this surveyor's or engineer's transit / instrument from approx. 1930 or so.  The optics are clear, the crosshairs present, and the compass is functioning.  All other motions are free and operate as they should.  All level vials are full and appear to be original.  There are 2 small screws that hold the shroud over the vertical scale that are missing.  This instrument is currently housed a nicely done craftsman made box that fits it nicely. 

Below is a short history of this company that comes from the Smithsonian's well done site and pictures some of their collection.  The link to that site is http://americanhistory2.si.edu/surveying/maker.cfm        SOLD!

 

Keuffel & Esser # 5129 Preliminary Survey Transit  This is a great looking transit that dates from 1908 as evidenced by the serial # 16974 which is found both on the compass face and the Mahogany box.  It is in overall very nice condition and has 98% or more of the green lacquer finish on the scope portion.  The horizontal limb in its original brass finish has mellowed to a soft warm patina.   The compass is operational and the needle on this example measures about 2 3/4" .  It has a full vertical circle which is 3 1/2" in Dia.  All screws and motions move freely and as they should.  The optics and crosshairs are clear and clean.  The base measures 2 3/4", and the instrument weighs approx 8 lbs.  It is an ideal size for use or display and it is a great looker with its contrasting finishes.  A nice piece, in a hard to find size.      SOLD!!

 

A. Lietz Co. Light Mountain Transit   I believe that this beautiful little instrument would be considered a Light Mountain Size Transit, both because of the overall size, and the bayonet or twist lock system for locking it to the tripod.   But it may be their Expedition size as it is so small, and I have no catalogs to check on this.   The tube measures 7.5 inches long, and the overall height is just about 10" to the top of the wheel.   The optics are clear and crisp as are the 3 crosshairs.  The compass measures just 3" across and works properly.  The limb measures 4.5 inches across at this point. The serial #  6220 is written on the compass face which is black and in perfect condition.  The level vials are good and appear to be original.  All of the other knobs and wheels appear to be working as well.   This  piece has never been polished and has a nice even patina.  Those portions that were finished in black look good as well, noting some minor losses to the edges of the wheel.  At some point, a well meaning antique dealer did refinish the box.  There are a series of original labels inside the lid of the box.   The mounting system for the instrument to the tripod is a simple line it up and twist with no threads to be found.      SOLD!

 

Special Note:  I have other transits, surveying instruments and related antiques currently for sale on our sister site www.patented-antiques.com  You can also find additional sales results in the Past Sales Archives there if that is what you are looking for.   Please take a look.

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