transit theodolite
Datecirca 1905
Inventory Number5174a
ClassificationTheodolite
Subject
Maker
Buff & Buff Manufacturing Company
1898 - 1982
User
Institute of Geographical Exploration
1929 - 1952
User
Institute of Geographical Surveying, Harvard University
circa 1930
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions16 cm, 38.6 lb., 32 x 19 cm (6 5/16 in., 17.5 kg, 12 5/8 x 7 1/2 in.)
in blue board tray: 40 × 32.7 × 24.8 cm (15 3/4 × 12 7/8 × 9 3/4 in.)
in blue board tray: 40 × 32.7 × 24.8 cm (15 3/4 × 12 7/8 × 9 3/4 in.)
Material
Accessorieswood case; leather case; right-angle prism; plumb bob; oil flask; tripod (5174b)
DescriptionThis is a transit theodolite made of brass with a black lacquer and black-crackle finish.
The transiting telescope has adjustable cross hairs and a focusing knob in the middle of the tube. There is a hanging bubble level beneath it attached by means of precision screws.
The telescope is attached to conical trunnions which are supported by two uprights shaped like inverted Us. Mounted on the end of one trunnion is a vertical circle with a silver scale divided 0°-90°-0°-90°-0° every 30'. It rotates within a spoked casting attached by screws to the upright. Also attached separately to the upright is a silver vernier reading to 1'. Only the portion of the scale between the upright legs is visible. Below the vertical wheel there is one of the crossed bubble levels fixed to the upright legs. Mounted on the other trunnion is a collar carrying the fine vertical adjustment mechanist and a locking screw. The vertical adjustment is a spring-loaded tangent screw with a drum micrometer. It is silvered and divided 0-100 every 1 with a vernier reading to tenths attached to a hinged silvered arm.
A central magnetic compass is is mounted between the upright standards directly below the telescope. It has a black wind rose with cardinal points marked in initials. East and West are reversed. The bar needle has a jeweled cap and a needle brake operated by a milled screw outside of the compass box. A raised silvered ring inside the compass is divided 0°- 360° and 0°- 90°- 0°- 90°- 0°every 1°.
The compass is mounted on a circular base plate that rotates over another plate attached to the central column. The base plate as two windows covered in glass. Through each one can read the silver azimuth scale divided 0°-360° clockwise and counterclockwise every 30' with a vernier reading to 1'. One vernier scale is marked A and the other B. Each window has a frosted glass shield to scatter light and reduce glare. A vertical rod is next to each window as well. The second of the crossed bubble levels is situated near one of these windows. The rotating base plate has a spring-loaded slow motion tangent screw and locking screw.
The entire assembly is mounted on a central brass column and freely rotates around it. There is a locking screw to stop rotation. It has a heart-shaped head. There is a spring-loaded slow-motion tangent screw as well with a milled head.
The central column carries a four-armed casting above a damascened brass horizontal plate. Four leveling screws are between them. The lowest plate has a large threaded socket to mate with the mounting on top of the tripod or the brass mounting attached to a wood board that slides into the case.
The wood board has an indented handle to pull it out of the case. A sunshade for the telescope is attached to the board around a cup to hold a plumb bob (missing). A two pronged wrench is screwed to the board. A rod-shaped wrench to tighten the precision screw heads is inserted into a drilled hole in the board.
The instrument has its original wooden case and leather over-case. The door of the wood case has sockets for accessories. A present there is a brass plumb bob with string (but not the original that would have sat in the cup on the board). Further down on the door, there is screwed a right-angle prism with a swing-out dark filter for use with the telescope eyepiece. Lower down, a leather strap secures an aluminum oil flask. The door also has a large instruction sheet with an etching of the Buff & Buff instrument shop in Jamaica Plain. The rear of the case has another instruction sheet--this time for the proper way to pack and ship the transit theodolite--and a shipping label.
The leather over-case is made of thick reddish leather. It has multiple straps and belt buckles, as well as a leather handle and iron D-rings.
A business card belonging to a surveyor (Louis E. Musto, Boston) was found in the case.
The transiting telescope has adjustable cross hairs and a focusing knob in the middle of the tube. There is a hanging bubble level beneath it attached by means of precision screws.
The telescope is attached to conical trunnions which are supported by two uprights shaped like inverted Us. Mounted on the end of one trunnion is a vertical circle with a silver scale divided 0°-90°-0°-90°-0° every 30'. It rotates within a spoked casting attached by screws to the upright. Also attached separately to the upright is a silver vernier reading to 1'. Only the portion of the scale between the upright legs is visible. Below the vertical wheel there is one of the crossed bubble levels fixed to the upright legs. Mounted on the other trunnion is a collar carrying the fine vertical adjustment mechanist and a locking screw. The vertical adjustment is a spring-loaded tangent screw with a drum micrometer. It is silvered and divided 0-100 every 1 with a vernier reading to tenths attached to a hinged silvered arm.
A central magnetic compass is is mounted between the upright standards directly below the telescope. It has a black wind rose with cardinal points marked in initials. East and West are reversed. The bar needle has a jeweled cap and a needle brake operated by a milled screw outside of the compass box. A raised silvered ring inside the compass is divided 0°- 360° and 0°- 90°- 0°- 90°- 0°every 1°.
The compass is mounted on a circular base plate that rotates over another plate attached to the central column. The base plate as two windows covered in glass. Through each one can read the silver azimuth scale divided 0°-360° clockwise and counterclockwise every 30' with a vernier reading to 1'. One vernier scale is marked A and the other B. Each window has a frosted glass shield to scatter light and reduce glare. A vertical rod is next to each window as well. The second of the crossed bubble levels is situated near one of these windows. The rotating base plate has a spring-loaded slow motion tangent screw and locking screw.
The entire assembly is mounted on a central brass column and freely rotates around it. There is a locking screw to stop rotation. It has a heart-shaped head. There is a spring-loaded slow-motion tangent screw as well with a milled head.
The central column carries a four-armed casting above a damascened brass horizontal plate. Four leveling screws are between them. The lowest plate has a large threaded socket to mate with the mounting on top of the tripod or the brass mounting attached to a wood board that slides into the case.
The wood board has an indented handle to pull it out of the case. A sunshade for the telescope is attached to the board around a cup to hold a plumb bob (missing). A two pronged wrench is screwed to the board. A rod-shaped wrench to tighten the precision screw heads is inserted into a drilled hole in the board.
The instrument has its original wooden case and leather over-case. The door of the wood case has sockets for accessories. A present there is a brass plumb bob with string (but not the original that would have sat in the cup on the board). Further down on the door, there is screwed a right-angle prism with a swing-out dark filter for use with the telescope eyepiece. Lower down, a leather strap secures an aluminum oil flask. The door also has a large instruction sheet with an etching of the Buff & Buff instrument shop in Jamaica Plain. The rear of the case has another instruction sheet--this time for the proper way to pack and ship the transit theodolite--and a shipping label.
The leather over-case is made of thick reddish leather. It has multiple straps and belt buckles, as well as a leather handle and iron D-rings.
A business card belonging to a surveyor (Louis E. Musto, Boston) was found in the case.
Signedprinted on wind rose: BUFF & BUFF MFG. CO. / BOSTON
logo on wind rose: BUFF [in diamond]
blind stamped on wood mounting tray in box: BUFF
printed on instruction sheet on case door: BUFF & BUFF MANUFACTURING COMPANY / JAMAICA PLAIN STATION BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
printed on shipping instructions in back of case: MARK BOX / BUFF & BUFF MFG. CO., / Jamaica Plain Station, BOSTON, MASS.
printed on shipping instructions: Buff & Buff Mfg Co.
printed on shipping label: GLASS! / To / BUFF & BUFF MFG. CO., / JAMAICA PLAIN, / MASS.
stamped on underside of oil flask: MADE IN U. S. A.
Inscribedstamped on lower mounting plate: HUIGE
serial number on wind rose: 11494
on wind rose: PAT. FEB 3, 1905
serial number blind stamped on wooden tray: BUFF NO. 12780
stamped on underside of oil flask: PAT'D APRIL. 23, 95, / PAT'D APRIL. 6, 97
on business card: LOUIS E. MUSTO / B. L. MAKEPEACE, INC. / SURVEYING AND / SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT DEPT. / 1266 BOYLSTON ST. / BOSTON, MASS. / CO 7-2700
ProvenanceInstitute of Geographical Exploration, Harvard University; transferred to CHSI October 1955.
Historical AttributesThe lower mounting plate of this transit theodolite is stamped stamped "HUIGE," which stands for Harvard University Institute of Geographical Exploration, the owner of this instrument.
W. & L. E. Gurley
Date: ca. 1884
Accessories: solar attachment; case; level; green filter; sun shade; tripod (5163b)
Object number: 5163a
John H. Temple
Date: 1850-1870
Accessories: carrying case; dust cap; leather straps; tripod (5166b)
Object number: 5166a
Andrew Yeates
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: case, second eyepiece, plumb bob
Object number: 5235
C. L. Berger & Sons
Date: circa 1925
Accessories: Original wood box, hand magnifier 3.5X (2008-1-0051b), brass collar
Object number: 2008-1-0051a
Buff & Berger
Date: 1871-1898
Accessories: plane table compass; sun shade; dust cap
Object number: 5153
Boston Optical Works
Date: 1860-1890
Accessories: Three dated Tolles objectives: 1/2" Nov. 18, 1860, 1/4" Dec. 23, 1877, 1/5" Oct. 28, 1868; 1 high power solid eyepiece, 1 low power normal eyepiece; polarizer; substage mirror; mechanical stage, standing case.
Object number: 1066
Legey
Date: circa 1838
Accessories: shades with double tabs (4); shades with single tab (4); screwdriver and square key.
Object number: 5268
Société Genevoise pour la Construction d'Instruments de Physique et de Mécanique
Date: 1880-1890
Accessories: Check see also records: box of weights and other parts (#1998-1-0248c); extra mount for finderscope (#1998-1-0248b).
Object number: 1998-1-0248a
See also/See also
