W.
& L. E. Gurley Vernier Transit
This early Gurley A frame transit is a very nice looking
instrument. . It is a large early vernier transit w/ a 5" needle and
11" scope. This transit looks very similar to one pictured
in the 1883 Twenty Fourth edition of the Gurley Manual and is identified in Fig
19 as a vernier transit compass. Gurley describes this simple
arrangement as being useful for long sightings where a scope would provide
benefits over the use of standard sight vanes on a surveyors compass.
The vernier adjustment / tangent lock is mounted on the top of the plate
are not spring loaded which is another indication of its early manufacture.
The adjuster
and stop operate properly, but the plate and vernier themselves are very
stiff and it does not swing freely as it should. The other motions and screws are all free and operate properly. There is no serial number on this instrument although some pieces are stamped with the #12 which I believe is the employee makers mark. Gurley did not use serial numbers until after 1908. I believe it dates from even earlier than 1883 given some of its features, but it is very hard to determine the exact age of Gurley instruments from this period.
The compass works well, and the silvered face is very nice. The face appears to be hand engraved also confirming its early manufacture date of pre 1880. The large level under the scope is full, but appears to be a later replacement as does one of the vials in the lower levels. The two lower level vials are full, but one is clear, and one blue. The optics are good. The box is not original to the instrument and has been repaired. The tripod is nice, proper, and included in the price, It is a 60" stiff leg model in very nice condition. The mount size is 4".
A very nice looking and hard to find early Gurley compass / transit in original finish and patina that will display very nicely.
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DB-GT-1
Good . . . . . . . $795.00
W.
& L. E. Gurley Vernier Surveyors Transit
This early Gurley A frame transit is in very nice original
condition. It has a 5" needle and would be the medium size transit
Gurley offered at this time. This transit looks identical to one pictured
in the 1883 Twenty Fourth edition of the Gurley Manual and identified in Fig
19 as a vernier transit compass. I believe it
dates from even earlier than 1883 given some of its features, but it is very hard to determine the
exact age of Gurley instruments from this period. There is no serial number as Gurley did not use them until after 1908. There is no vertical circle, or large level under the scope. Gurley describes this simple arrangement as being useful for long sightings where a scope would provide benefits over the use of standard sight vanes on a surveyors compass. The compass works well, and the silvered face is very nice. The face appears to be hand engraved also confirming its early manufacture date of pre 1880.
The optics are good. The two level vials are full, but one is clear, and one blue. Note that there is no leveling base, indicating that this instrument was designed to be used on a tripod or staff with a jointed knuckle joint, although the manual indicates it could be used with a leveling base as well.. The box is OK with some minor bug damage to the bottom, but it is still solid. I oiled it as it was quite dry, and with a coat of wax it will look very nice.
A very nice looking and hard to find early Gurley compass / transit in original finish and patina that will display very nicely.
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DH-GLM-1
Good+ . . . . . . . $795.00
W.
& L. E. Gurley / E. G. Soltmann Vernier Transit
This engineer size Gurley transit is double marked with the name E. G. Soltmann
of New York. This was an outfit that distributed surveying and
blueprint supplies in NY during the late 19th - 20th century. There is not serial number under the glass, but there is
a #505 on the plate with the Soltzman name and NY location. This nice
looking transit has a 5" needle and would be the medium size transit
Gurley offered at this time. I believe it
dates from near the turn of the century but it is very hard to determine the
exact age of Gurley instruments from this period. There is no serial number under the glass as Gurley did not use them until after 1908. There is no vertical circle. The compass works well, and the silvered face is very nice. The transit was reconditioned at some point and refinished in a black paint. It is in good + condition. The optics are clear but the eye piece cap is missing. All motions are smooth, and work properly. The three level vials are full. Note that the leveling base is a newer 3 1/2 x 8 that was put on at a later date to make it so that it could be mounted to the standard size tripod 3 1/2 x 8 that became the standard after the 1930's. A proper fitting fixed leg K & E tripod is included in the price, or it can be purchased separately. The box is very nice. The felt in the interior has been replaced at some point. .
A very nice looking Gurley transit that will display very nicely.
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RK-GURLEY-SOLT-1
Good+ . . . . . . . $595.00
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 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..
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COOK-GT-1
Good+ . . . . . . . $1095.00
"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
W.
& L. E. Gurley Transit w/ Optical Plummet This
Gurley transit with optical plummet is in like new condition. I even have the
original cardboard shipping box from Gurley which I have not shown in
the pics. I also have a wood & metal expandable tripod with shifting
head that is included
in the price as well.The serial # is TY1482. dating this piece from 1960's or so. The needle works properly and is 3 1/2" The scope is 10" and it has a 5" vertical circle. The Mahogany box with dovetailed corners is very nice, and inside are the marked screwdriver, instruction pamphlet, magnifier, oil bottle, and more. The green matte finish on this transit is near perfect. and I believe from the weight of this instrument that it is made of Aluminum. A nice instrument that will display nicely and be a great addition to the collection or is ready to use in the field. Also included is the shifting head Gurley tripod in the pics below.
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DS-GT-OP
Fine . . . . . . $895.00
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