Important Watches
Geneva, Mar 20, 2010
LOT 348
Surveyor?s Theodolite European. Made in the 20th century. Very fine, steel and brass surveyor?s precision theodolite with compass and fitted wooden travelling box. To be sold without reserve
CHF 2,000 - 3,000
USD 1,800 - 2,800 / EUR 1,400 - 2,000
Sold: CHF 2,160
C. Gray steel frame and 8?? telescope, vertical gilt brass and silver scale calibrated from 0 ? 350, below a glazed compass with black dial and outer silvered scale, two spirit levels, rotating plate with horizontal gilt brass and silvered scale calibrated from 0 ? 350, three steel feet with brass leveling screws, brass adjustment screws throughout. Dim. 30 x 15 cm. In good condition
Notes
Instruments with 8" scopes are usually called « Light
Mountain » or « Preliminary » transits. The transit as the
theodolite was first called, was developed by William Young
in the early 19th century. He incorporated the standard
surveying compass with surveying levels and scopes in one
instrument to equip the surveyors who were charting the
American territories. The first transits were called theodilites,
the definition of a theodilite has changed over time with
more precise instruments being called by that name today.