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K & E / Keuffel & Esser c. 1919 # 5070 Engineers Mountain & Mining Transit

K & E / Keuffel & Esser c. 1919 # 5074 Engineers Mountain & Mining Transit This model and style transit with its unusual 3 screw leveling base is very unusual. In catalogs it gets an asterisk with explanation that it is only available through special order. K & E called this style of transit off as "Extra Fine" & The serial # is 38611 dating it from 1920 or so. The tag on the door says the needle is calibrated for Buenos Aries Argentina. There is a tag on the box that also indicates it came from South America. Note that it has 2 auxiliary magnifiers to allow for a more precise reading of the extra fine scales on the different vernier scales.

All motions and thumbscrews operate smoothly. The silvered compass face is near flawless, and the 3 3/4" compass needle swings north. The black oxidized finish is mostly fine. All three level bubbles are good and appear to be original. The optics are clear and good.

There are a few minor apologies. The door on the box has been remounted on the opposite side of the opening. Not sure why and no apparent reason. There is one vertical and 2 horizontal crosshairs. One crosshair above the center horizontal crosshair is broken or unattached. Also, the protective outer cover or guard for the vertical circle / vernier scale is cracked. I see no damage to the wheel itself. Finally, there is a small dent on the end of the scope as pictured.

This rare & desirable surveying instrument will be a highlight of the well rounded surveying instrument collection and will display very nicely in any number of settings.

ARG-KE-5074

Good + . . . . . . $600.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

W. & L. E. Gurley & Others
Surveying / Surveyor
Compasses / Solar Compasses / Transits

Antique W. & L. E. Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass

W. & L. E. Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass Gurley Aluminum Solar Compasses are amongst the rarest of the rare in antique surveying instruments. Gurley made an aluminum version of their solar compass for just a short period starting in the 1890s, and only a handful are known to exist or thought to have been produced.

Gurleys' use of Aluminum during this time period was very unusual. Aluminum was a relatively new material whose characteristics had not been fully developed, were understood, or had been perfected. Aluminum from this period was very brittle and prone to crack. The finished compass, while much lighter than one made of brass, is also much more fragile.

One Aluminum Solar Compass came to market at Skinners Auction 15 or so years ago and brought over 17K. I was told it later sold privately for 60K. There is another example currently on eBay as of Sept 2020 priced at 24K. The author of that ad, a well known authority on antique surveying instruments states that his is one of only a few others known. I had another collector tell me of a couple others he was aware of.

I went inside looking for a date or maker info. I saw no date info. The number 14 was stamped under the plate. The Burt Solar Attachment is also stamped # 14. It could be a serial # or have another explanation. There were some other marks and scratches inside, but they appeared to be reference marks related to assembly.

Inside the original fitted box, in the top compartment, is a dead mint 1920 Gurley Catalog and some other Gurley marked material from the same era. The catalog

W. & L. E. Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass Rare Antique

is still in the original mailing envelope. There are also some newspaper scraps used for packing that are dated 1920. I believe the compass itself dates from the 1890s, some 20 - 30 years earlier, and that the instrument with the 1920 catalog went into storage around 1920.

The overall condition of this Aluminum Solar Compass is nice. Both level vials are good although one is blue and one clear. All motions and adjustments turn freely. There are two bases. One is a brass leveling head for use with a tripod, and one a brass knuckle joint for mounting the compass to a staff. The striding level is present as is the adjustment bar. The striding level is full, but appears to have a hairline crack in it.

There are also two small sight vane attachments with a fitted spot in the box. The tops of the brass sight vanes are different designs, one rounded and one w/ a peak. The cutouts, patina, and finish match on both. Note that the holes through the aluminum plate under both sight vanes have been slightly enlarged for some reason. This Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass is an amazing instrument that will fit into many different collections. A rare opportunity.

RS-GUR-ASCOMP-3

Good . . . . . . $9,750.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Misc. Surveying Tools
Tripods / Plumb Bobs /
Chains / Drafting Sets & More
for Architects / Engineers & Surveyors

Wild-Heerbrugg 2m Subtense Bar Description: This sale is for the Wild-Heerbrugg 2m Subtense Bar pictured. The inscription on this example reads made in Switzerland. I believe it is by Wild. Subtense bars were used for precise distance measurement before the introduction of electronic distance measurement (EDM).

Subtense Bars are usually made of a stable material such as invar (an iron-nickel alloy). It is a bar of known length, with targets at either end. When used with a theodolite, it serves as a quick and convenient method of measuring distances indirectly. The subtense technique is similar to that involving a tachymeter and graduated rod.

There is a detailed description of history and use of these devices at this site. vm.civeng.unsw.edu.au/surveying/f_pall/html/t54.html

The targets are electrically lighted and have not been tested. The canvas and leather case is pretty nice. The tripod it is mounted on in some pics is offered separately in another ad.

LCM-SUBTENSE

Good + . . . . . . $750.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Lietz / Sokkisha Aluminum Tripod Nice.

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LCM-LIETZ-TP

Good + . . . . . . $75.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Lietz Split Leg Wooden Tripod Nice. It is the standard 3 1/2 x 8 tpi that most later instruments use. A nice example.

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LCM-LIETZ-TPOD

Good + . . . . . . $100.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

AGATEC - GAT 220 HV Laser Level This laser level looks to have seen little if any use. I think it is about 20 years old and newer models are now available as there is not a lot of info about this model or other examples to be found on line.

It is battery operated. The main unit uses two readily available D cells and the accessory piece / rod target uses a standard 9 volt battery. There is a AC / DC charger / aux. power source, and its mentioned in the instruction manual, but there is no place to plug it in that I can find and the place the manual points to does not exist on the unit. Can't explain that.

In looking around it looks like these use to retail for over 1.3K and some could be had for $700 or so before disappearing from the market. The France based company is still around selling different models.

LCM-LASER

Fine . . . . . $250.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Hago / West Germany Drafting Set A post WWII German drafting set in very good condition. All the spots in the velvet lined folding case are full.

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LA-HAGO-DS

Good + . . . . . . $20.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Survey / Surveying Instrument Catalogs
& Other Catalogues & Literature

A. Lietz San Francisco 1899 Catalog Nice!!

LCM-LIETZ-1893

Good + . . . . . $250.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

1908 C. L. Berger & Sons Catalog Nice!!

LCM-1908-BERG

Good + . . . . . $150.00

To Order Email: patentedantiques@gmail.com

Dating Your Surveying Instrument

Here is a link to a website that can help you date your Transit / Level or other Surveyor's Instrument.
http://www.surveyhistory.org/how_old_is_my_instrument.htm

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Surveying & Engineering Related Antiques
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and are always interested in buying please visit our Past Sales Archive Pages at our sister website www.AntiqBuyer.com.

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Antique & Vintage
Surveying / Surveyor Instruments & Tools

Keuffel & Esser / K & E Transits

W. & L. E. Gurley & Others
Surveying / Surveyor
Compasses / Solar Compasses / Transits

Misc. Surveying Tools
Tripods / Plumb Bobs /
Chains / Drafting Sets & More
for Architects / Engineers & Surveyors

Survey / Surveying Instrument Catalogs
& Other Catalogues & Literature

Antique & Vintage Surveying / Surveyor Instruments & Tools

Keuffel & Esser / K & E Transits

W. & L. E. Gurley & Others Surveying / SurveyorCompasses / Solar Compasses / Transits

Misc. Surveying Tools Tripods / Plumb Bobs / Chains / Drafting Sets & Morefor Architects / Engineers & Surveyors

Survey / Surveying Instrument Catalogs & Other Catalogues & Literature

Antique & Vintage
Surveying / Surveyor Instruments & Tools

W. & L. E. Gurley & Others
Surveying / Surveyor
Compasses / Solar Compasses / Transits

Misc. Surveying Tools
Tripods / Plumb Bobs /
Chains / Drafting Sets & More
for Architects / Engineers & Surveyors

Survey / Surveying Instrument Catalogs
& Other Catalogues & Literature