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Larry
and Carole
Meeker
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Internet
Antique Dealers & Brokers
530-620-7019
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Antique
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We can help you sell your
Surveying & Scientific Related Antiques!!
I buy, sell, and deal in antique surveying instruments and related science and technology a If you have surveying instruments or other related tool & technology related antiques you would like to sell please visit that page 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 at either site or contact us. If you have an antique surveyor's instruments and
equipment to sell, please contact us at
Transits This page deals primarily deal with Vintage & Antique Surveying Transits giving some specific information about differnt makers & variations that have been offered. Please visit the other specific pages on this site dealing with surveyor's compasses or surveying levels if that is what you have to sell. There is also additional information and past sales results for surveying instruments on our sister site www.Patneted-Antiques.com if you are looking for values. Please visit that site as well. The transit as known today was first introduced by
William Young in the mid to early 1800's and he The first transits were referred to as theodilites, and because of the difficulty or primitive nature of the optics they did not have the ability to turn a full circle within the standards holding the scope. In other words the scope had to be longer than the height of the standards. This drawback was soon remedied with improvements to the science of optics and all makers began making instruments that could revolve in their standards so that he user could shoot behind him without rotating the entire instrument. Hence the definition or meaning of the term theodilites has changed over time and newer ones are just more precise transits. . Surveyor's transits that have solar
attachments, or those equipped with auxiliary We are especially interested in more complex antique Surveying instruments such as mining related transits, Theodolites, solar transits & solar compasses that have these unusual patented features. Antique surveying instruments in original undamaged condition are always worth more than those that are damaged or have seen extensive use and abuse. In general the earlier an instrument the more desirable it is, and those from the early to mid 1800's are becoming increasingly harder to find. Instruments from the the 1940's and later are typically later than what most collectors of surveying instruments are looking for and sell cor considerably less than earlier models. Antique surveying instruments come in a variety of finishes ranging from
natural
brass and clear or colored lacquer, to different color anodized finishes that are applied to the brass
bodies. These are usually a smooth black or dark shade of green that was done to keep
The finish on later examples is often done in a crinkle paint finish in green or black. These are in general considered much less collectible as they usually date from the 1940's or later. In general unless later instruments have some unusual feature such as solar attachments, double scopes, or are a rare configuration or size, they are generally considered less collectible and hence less valuable. The main buyers of these later transits are casual users or builders rather than collectors. Unusually small transits with a 6" scope or less are typically referred to as as Explorer or Expedition models. Instruments with 8" scopes are usually designated as Light Mountain or Preliminary transits. 10 -12 inch scopes can be called architects or engineers transits depending on features they exhibit like vernier scales and / or compasses beneath the scope. For example, architects using a transit on location would have little need for a compass. Those instruments with small magnifiers positioned over the very fine verniers are today referred to as theodilites. If you have an antique surveyor's
transit or other vintage surveying instruments that are similar to those that you see pictured here on this page, please contact me at
Just telling me
you have a Gurley, Berger, Buff, Buff & Buff, K & E, Aloe, or a David White, etc. and
The list of
surveying instrument makers
whose pieces are of interest 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 makers of surveying instruments that have normal given
names that were in business for varying periods of time in the 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
makers and their instruments as well.
Examples of 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
To see examples of antique surveying instruments and related equipment that I currently have for sale, please go to our sister site at www.Patented-Antiques.com while there visit the surveying related past sales archive pages for additional info. |
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Larry & Carole Meeker
ntiques.
In addition to this informational website we operate
incorporated features from the standard surveying compass in use during that
period and surveying levels to create one instrument to meet the needs
of a growing group of surveyors busy charting the opening new
territories in America.
scopes used for mining,
and those
instruments that
have other unusual
patented or special use features are unusual and of special interest.
To the right is a solar transit w/ Burt patent solar attachment made by
W. & L. E. Gurley. More info about this
particular instrument can be found by
