I buy, sell, and deal in antique surveying instruments
and related science and technology
antiques. In addition to this
informational website we operate
www.Patented-Antiques.com,
where we conduct our surveying instrument and other antique sales.
That website is one of the largest antique sales websites on the internet
dealing in surveying related antiques and other tool and technology
related antiques. If you are in the market to buy or sell vintage and antique
surveying instruments please visit that webpage.
If you have
surveying instruments or other tool & technology related
antiques you would like to sell please visit that webpage to see how we
conduct our consignment sales. If you would like to consign
with us and have additional questions please see the
FAQ page and
other informational pages at
either site or
Contact Us.
If you have an antique surveyor's instruments and
equipment to sell, please contact us at
LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
or at the phone number above and we can discuss it.
Wye, Dumpy, Railroad, Engineers,Architects
& Other Surveying Levels
As
dealers of
American antique surveyor's instruments
and vintage
tools we
deal in, buy and sell many different types of antique surveying instruments
and related vintage accessories a surveyor, architect, engineer
or builder would have used in his
trade.
I am
interested in many different forms of early survey instruments including early Wye
levels and
engineer's levels or farm levels
and dumpy levels. On the left is an example of a long Wye level made
by W. L. & E Gurley of Troy NY. It dates from the
late 19th century. Levels like this looked very similar for nearly
100 years with only minor changes.
Levels were designed and offered for different applications and
oftentimes their names are an indication of that use. Examples are
railroad levels, architects levels, farm or drainage levels, dumpy
levels and more.
In general surveying levels pre-date transits and came
after the introduction of surveyor's compasses. They were made and
offered for jobs where the
user does not have the need to shoot vertical angles but did need to
shoot long lines.
On the right is what is known as an Alidade. It is
a level scope mounted to a base plate. These
were used in the field to help draw maps and were used in conjunction with a
plane table & tripod. They come in different sizes, such as
high post, low post, explorer, and others for different
applications.
Surveying transits evolved by combining the basic
elements from surveying compasses and surveyors levels. William Young of
Philadelphia is credited with designing the first transit when he
thought to marry
the concept of the compass and level together to meet the evolving needs of his
clientele in the 1830's.
If you have antique surveying instruments or
vintage surveyor's tools that are similar to those that you see pictured on this page that you want to
sell, please contact me at LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
with as many details as possible, including the size, the maker's name, or
any other important written information.
This style o
f instrument,
known as a convertible level. It could be set up
as either a standard level (as shown), or by using the pieces shown the instrument could be
turned 90 degrees in the frame and was reinserted to be used as a basic if not crude transit. These complex
looking, but relatively simple survey devices were mostly aimed at casual or less professional users or home builders and were produced
in large numbers. They do not command large sums of money. I also buy Wye levels, dumpy levels and engineers
levels that look similar but are typically larger and longer than this
level pictured here.
Selling Antique
Surveying Instruments
Pictures
of the instrument you want to sell and the asking price would be a
great help, and without them it is going to be difficult to
determine if there is a real interest in your piece. Just telling me
you have a Gurley, a Berger, or a David White, etc. and giving me the
serial number is not enough information. Asking me what your
instrument is worth with that amount of info would be like me asking
you what my car is worth, without me telling you anything
more about it other than that it is a Toyota. In most cases it simply can not be done with so
little information.
The list of
desirable surveying instrument makers
is extensive, and
starts with such famous makers as Rittenhouse, who made instruments during
George Washington's time, to the more well known and
prolific makers like W. E. Gurley,
Lietz, Buff, Berger, Heller & Brightly, Keuffel and Esser, Roach,
Sala, or Queen & Co. to name just a few.
There are numerous early makers of surveying instruments that have normal given
names that were in business for varying periods of time in the 18th & 19th
century. The list of individual maker names is extensive and can not
really be given here but there is interest in many of these lesser known
instrument makers as well.
I am also
interested in buying early tripods or staffs that came with most
surveying instruments. They can come in a variety of sizes and
configurations and there is always a market for them .
Examples of Select
Antique Surveying Instruments
Previously Sold
*****Click
links below*****
The surveying instruments
listed below are examples of the
caliber, condition and quality of antique surveying instruments and equipment that I am primarily interested in.
If you have quality antique surveying instruments similar to those that you see
on this page that you want to sell, please contact us at
LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
providing me with as many details as possible. Thank you!!
To see other examples of antique
surveying instruments and related equipment that I have for sale, and have
sold in the past, please go to our sister site
at www.Patented-Antiques.com.and
visit the surveying related sale pages you will find there.
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