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W. & L. E. Gurley Transits / Surveying Instruments
Solar, Mining, Surveyors, Architects, Builders & Engineers Transits

W. & L. E. Gurley #47 Surveyors Transit This early Gurley A frame standard transit is in very nice original condition. As can be seen from the 2 labels in the lid of the box it hails from Little Falls NY which is close to the home base of Gurley in Troy NY. It has a 4" needle and would be the smallest size transit Gurley offered at this time. They also came with 5 and 6 " needles.

The compass face is not marked Gurley but it is obviously a Gurley instrument. It is hand engraved, and has a SS and #3 stamped under the compass needle rosette. I have been told those initials are those of Seneca Stephens a Gurley master instrument maker in Gurley's employ. The #3 could be an indicator that this instrument was made in 1873 when considered with the other early features this transit exhibits. I am not sure why Gurley did not mark it with their name before leaving the factory. Other features indicating its early manufacture are the fact that the tangent lock is found atop of the plate, and is not spring loaded. The straight A frame standards confirms this as does the style of the box, and the fact that tripod mount / leveling base is removable and stored separately in the box. .

The optics are OK, but some of the spider web crosshairs have some loose and small strands besides the main crosshairs can be seen when sighting it. All the motions are all free, and all bubbles with original colored fluid are good. It has a full circle silvered vertical vernier and the horizontal limb has two viewing windows for the vernier there.

The compass needle is 4", and the compass face measures about 5". making the the smallest standard size transit they offered at this time. It has a smaller than typical tripod mount with the center male threaded portion being 1 1/4 and the outer ring measuring 2 3/4". The box is OK The leather strap is broken. The tripod, which is included in the price is OK, but appears to have a replaced leg, and another one of the thin legs is wrapped in old black friction tape. It might be a repair, or there as an ID marker. I did not remove it to see.

A very nice looking and hard to find early Gurley transit in original finish and patina that will display very nicely.

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DH-GLM-1

Good+ . . . . . . . $995.00 / w Tripod

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W. & L. E. Gurley #100 Reconnaissance Transit This Gurley #100 Recon transit was designed to be carried into the field where weight and bulk were primary considerations. It stands approx 10" tall to the top of the full circle vernier and has a 9" long scope. It weighs about 7 lbs as opposed the #28 Light mountains 13 lbs and the differences in scale & weight are evident when set next to each other. The 2 3/4" tripod size is also smaller than the light mountain transit uses. The optics are good, and there is one vertical and 3 horizontal crosshairs.

This transit would date approx from the last quarter of the 1800's to before 1908 and like many Gurley instruments carries no serial # thus making exact dating a task at times. Gurley did not begin to use serial #'s until 1908. 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 move freely and the compass operation is OK. The silvered compass face is nice as well with the name and location above the North Fleur d' Leis. The leveling bubbles are all good. The overall finish of natural brass looks good and is original with a nice rich patina.

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 box. A nice instrument that will display nicely or be a great addition to the collection.

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BM-G100-1

Good+ . . . . . . $795.00

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W& L. E. Gurley #17 Engineers Surveying Transit w/ Burt Solar Attachment This is a Gurley engineers solar transit equipped with a factory and properly marked Burt Patent Solar Attachment. Solar transits are one of the most desirable and sought after of all surveying instruments to be found. They are graphic, historically important, rare, and represent an important aspect of surveying history.

This example is a #17 Engineers transit with a 11" scope and has a large and commanding presence that will make for a great display piece. It has a 5" needle, and a 6" half vernier circle that reads to 20 degrees. It weighs close to 18 lbs or almost twice what a similar looking but smaller light mountain or recon transit would weigh. The picture below on the right gives you an idea of just how large and commanding this transit is compared to a recon size Gurley. The optional / auxiliary side mount level is present as well. The adjusting tool is also stored in the box.

This instrument is in very nice overall condition and dates from the early part of the last century. There is no serial number and so predates 1908 when Gurley started to use them. It has never been cleaned and the brass has a wonderful mellow patina. The box is nice as well noting just some scuffing on the exterior. All motions and the screw are

free. The compass works, and the silvered compass face is very nice.

The idea behind solar instruments, either transits or compasses, 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. The Burt Solar attachment was first Patented in the 1830's to be used on solar compasses. Gurley later bought the rights and offered this style with their instruments. . A solar instrument enabled the user to find a true reference or location using the horizon and the position of the sun instead of the standard method employing the compass. Even though the concept had been around and employed in seafaring navigation for centuries, very few of them were actually made for use in the field w/ transits or compasses. They are very rare.

Each major surveying instrument maker made a transit that came equipped with one form or another of these devices. The best known names in the surveying instrument field were Gurley and Keuffel & Esser, but Berger, Buff, Dietzgen, Lietz, Sala, and others offered versions of a solar transit. Different attachments are typically known by the name of the inventor, and the examples designed and developed by Saegmuller, Smith, & Burt being the best known solar attachments. The Saegmuller and the Smith utilized secondary small scopes, while the Burt design more closely resembled a octant or sextant in design and used a peep site.

Gurley was located in Troy New York at this time, and their reputation for the manufacture of quality instruments was unsurpassed. 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 by collectors. Rarely seen or offered for sale in this large size, this transit is the piece that will move your collection to the head of the line. A super piece.

JW-GST60

Good+ . . . . . . $2975.00

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W. & L. E. Gurley Engineers / Surveyor's Transit w/ Double Mark F. W. Lincoln Jr. / Boston Mass This large early and unusually marked Gurley transit is in very nice original condition.  This transit is double marked under the glass with the second name F. W. Lincoln Jr./ Boston Mass. He is listed in Smart's book on Surveying, as an instrument maker and also has a short bio and a compass he made pictured at the site www.Surveyhistory.org   At the bottom of this ad is an excerpt from the bio from Smarts from that survey history site.

This engineers /surveying transit dates from before 1883 when Lincoln sold the business. There is no serial # under the glass, but upon examination there is a #17 stamped in several places.   Other early features include the straight A shaped legs or standards holding the scope, also the tangent lock is found atop of the plate, and is not spring loaded. In addition to making his own instruments Lincoln must have contracted out to Gurley for special pieces or to meet the high demand during this period. This is the first of these I have seen, and Smart does not mention any double marked examples in his book.

The scope measures just about 11" and it stands approx 12" tall. .The compass needle is 5 inches, and the compass face measures about 6". The compass face is hand engraved, and the location Troy NY is at the bottom near the south point another indication of its early manufacture. The silvered face is nice, and engraving is very nice.   The optics are clear, and the crosshairs are present but the vertical appears to be off center to my eye. All motions are all free, and all 3 level bubbles are original and good with the typical blue liquid filling. The dovetailed Mahogany box is nice and has been nicely refinished . The leather strap is a new replacement and looks good as well. A very nice looking piece that will display very nicely in most any setting with its original patina..

I have a tripod that will fit this transit. It was painted a bright red which was a means for the user to insure it did not get left behind or stolen, and was also helpful for the pole or stick man to be able to sight on in the field. There is a great repair to one of the legs that adds a lot of character to the tripod. The tripod is an additional 75.00.

COOK-GT-1

Good+ . . . . . . . $1095.00

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F. W. Lincoln Jr. & Company (1839 - 1883) Frederick Walker Lincoln, Jr. (1817 - 1898)

"Frederick Walker Lincoln, Jr. was born at Boston on February 27, 1817 according top his monument in Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His grandmother was Deborah Revere, daughter of Paul Revere. When he was thirteen years old, he was apprenticed to Gedney King and his son and successor, Charles Gedney King. In 1839 Mr. Lincoln went in business for himself. He continued for forty-three years as a maker of nautical and surveying instruments. In 1883 he sold the business, F. W. Lincoln Jr. & Co., to Charles C. Hutchinson who had been a partner since 1858. He continued the business under the firm name of C. C. Hutchinson until his death in 1913. The firm was then taken over by his successors until 1940 under the same name. In December 1857, Mr. Lincoln became Mayor of Boston. He was elected Mayor each year serving until December 1864. In 1882 he accepted the position of Manager of the Boston Storage Company, the position he held at the time of his death on 13 September 1898.

" Reference: Smart, Charles E. The Makers Of Surveying Instruments In America Since 1700 Troy, New York: Regal Art Press. 1962

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Here is a link to a site that can help you date your Transit / Level or other Instrument if you are looking for that info.