M.
Attwood / A. Lietz Miners Clinometer / Compass Mr.
Attwood's invention appears in the 1899 A. Lietz Co. of San Francisco catalog billed as their
#87 Attwood Clinometer. It still appears in the 1911 catalog.
It is referred to in an 1896 J. C. Sala Catalog so the idea for it had
been around for a while before Lietz offered their modified design.
I could not find a patent for it using Google. The 1911 catalog and the entry can be viewed in Google books with a search
for M. Attwood Clinometer. This particular instrument comes directly from the family of the owner Roy Wethered who was born in 1883 and was a miner and involved in various mining operations of that time period. A Google search of his name brings up numerous references and biographical info.
This combination mining tool / inclinometer / Clinometer / compass and more measures 6 3/8 x 3 x 7/16". The condition is very nice showing just minor losses to the original black finish. The level vials are good, and the sighting feature works as it should. It also has its original leather case that is nice as well.. It is made of an Aluminum alloy and includes an inclinometer and compass as well as two levels and a sighting arrangement allowing it to be used as a hand level / grade level. The catalog description lists out all the mining jobs it could be used for including rough surveys. The cost back then was $15.00
A very nice piece of mining related memorabilia that is very hard to find!
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CASS-ATTWOOD
Fine . . . . . . . $475.00 SOLD!!
Millers Falls 24" Cast Iron Level
They offered a fine level and they are distinctively
different w/ the circle decoration motif they used. The owner coated
this w/ his special gloss.
Good . . . . . $195.00
CYN-MFL-24
Goodell
Pratt 18" Brass Bound Level
The first owner drilled a nice round hole in
one end so he could hang this up. The collector coated it w/ his special gloss
finish. All the vials are good. 
Good +. . . . . $75.00
CYN-GP-18
Stanley Sweetheart Era
18" Brass Bound Level
This nice looking level has been cleaned and coated with
the collectors trademark lacquer. It is a nice example. .
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Good +. . . . . $125.00
CYN-1093
Stanley
#95 Brass Bound Mahogany Level
This is a nice example that dates from the teens or so
from the style of the logo. .
Good +. . . . . $95.00
AMN-95
Starrett 18" Cast Iron Level
Starrett sold a nice line of cast iron levels.
This is nice, and all original.
Good +. . . . . $65.00 SOLD!!
PK-S18LVL
Stanley #313 24" Aluminum Level
This is NOS and looks to have never been used.
The owner just taped the original box and left it on the shelf
This is nice, and all original.
Good +. . . . . $95.00
AMN-S313LVL
Starrett
Plumbers Adjustable Pitch Cast Iron Level
Starrett sold a nice line of cast iron levels.
This is nice, and all original. It will clean to be even nicer.
Good +. . . . . $75.00 SOLD!!
AMN-SLVL
Cast Iron Line Level This level is
in nice condition. The vial is original.
Good + . . . . . . $25.00
LCM-CLV
Stanley
#41 Pocket / Square Level This level is
in nice condition. The vial is original.
Good . . . . . . $15.00 / Each
DP41LVL-1 DP41LVL-2
Stratton
Brothers # 10 24" Brass Bound Level This
level is pretty nice.
Good . . . . . . $75.00
CYN-DV6
Stanley
18" # 36 Cast Iron LevelGood . . . . . . $20.00
CYN-3618LVL
Stanley
Nickel Plated 12" # 36G Cast Iron Level Nice.
Fine . . . . . . $40.00
PK-36G-LVL
Stanley
# 30 Adjustable Double Plumb Vial Level Nice.
Good + . . . . . . $35.00
FP-30-LVL
Higler & Watts Clinometer
This is English, and probably dates from the 50's or later. It is a
well made precision instrument, and I have seen them offered for sale before
for many hundreds of dollars. I imagine they were used to determine
angle of piping, or setting up machinery and the like. Nice.
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Good + . . . . . . $95.00
AMN-HWCLINO
E.
C. Durand 1893 Patent Combination Tool / Inclinometer / Level / Plumb /
Indicator
This is a rare and unusual patented inclinometer / level. It measures 24" long
and the body is made of walnut. It has seen little use and is in
excellent condition with most of the original finish remaining. The
card with the maker and patent info is nice. It functions
smoothly and properly.The patent was issued in 1893 to E. C. Durand of Wellington, Ohio for a "combination tool". The patent number is 496,300. The patent comes up in a Google patent search, and it is a good match to the "combination tool" described and pictured in the patent. Here is a link It makes for a good read as he describes the construction and features.
As far as I have been able to determine this is the only known example of this unusual "combination tool" inclinometer / level to appear on the market. A Google search turns up no info on Mr. Durand or his invention. I looked through 10 years of auction catalogs that included a number of other rare and unusual inclinometers and levels but saw no other by this maker. I have never seen another in any of the collections I have seen nor could I learn anything more from other collectors and dealers I spoke with.. A rare opportunity. Highly recommended!
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Fine + . . . . . . $4975.00 SOLD!!
DL-1893-INC
Brooks Patent #26 Stanley Universal Plumb & Level
/ Inclinometer This is a very rare
and very nice condition level / inclinometer that was patented on August 29th 1854 by Lebbius Brooks
of Great Falls New Hampshire. The patent number is
11,596 and you can view the
patent drawings and write-up here. Stanley bought
the rights to it, and offered it for sale from 1860 to1865.There are but a handful of these levels known, and it can be assumed that Stanley made just one limited production run of them after purchasing the rights to the patent, but after slow sales and little consumer interest dropped the line in favor of simpler and less expensive to produce designs that were better sellers.
Roger Smith wrote an article on these levels in the 1st edition of John Walters publication back in the 90's. It was written after the first one turned up years ago here in California and that collector communicated with Roger about it. . Since that time just a handful more have come to market or been found.
This example is different from, and has an additional feature that the patent does not discuss. It has two brass sighting peep holes attached on the top rail. that I have not seen in any of the other examples that I could find. The reprint of the Stanley Catalog i looked in also does not picture it or discuss it. These appear to be factory and original, and not an afterthought. The paper label instructions on the side make no reference to this feature either. It would seem that this is a rare and unique variation that was probably introduced to help with slow sales make make it more appealing to the prospective buyers.
The overall condition of this rare level is very nice. It is 28" long. The body of the level is made of a hard / heavy dark colored Mahogany. It is a 2 piece slab construction which is proper. There is some minor scuffing and dings in the wood as one would expect. The 3 x 5 paper instruction label is about 90% and readable for the most part. All of the level and plumb vials are full and appear to be original.
The Inclinometer feature is controlled by a bar running through the body to a pointer at the end. This bar is attached to the dial and has a trigger lock mechanism. If I understand the patent and instructions the idea is that he mechanism that will lock the dial in any given position to reflect the angle that was determined. In addition there is a screw release on the side to lock in a result This feature seems to function, but not through the entire range as far as I can determine from reading the instructions. The trigger works, and the dial is moveable a few degrees. I could not get it to turn through the full circle though if it is supposed to. The pointer at the end plate moves up and down, but not all the way in one direction if it is supposed to..
The brass end plate is inscribed with the patent date info and degree / slope charts. As can be seen in the pics these are clear and in fine condition. Reading the patent on line was interesting, Brooks description is very precise, if not complicated, and confusing. This was a very novel and unique idea Mr. Brooks had for his "bar" level as he called it and it is a great piece for the collection of early and rare levels or antique tools.
A rare opportunity. Highly recommended!
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Fine . . . . . . $4795.00
DW-S26-INC
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