surveyor's spotlight
Datecirca 1945
Inventory Number1997-1-0895
ClassificationSpotlight
Subject
Maker
American Instrument Company
1919-1970s
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions29.5 × 17.6 × 18 cm (11 5/8 × 6 15/16 × 7 1/16 in.)
Material
Accessorieswhite paper tag
DescriptionElectric spotlight with a conical black metal case mounted on brass blocks in a wooden frame.
Extending vertically from the back center of the spotlight's case is a steel tab with a steel knob through a slit near its top. Two wires with orange coating project from the spotlight and connect to two steel clips on the inside of the wooden frame. One of the wires first passes through a white plastic box, also mounted on the inside of the wooden frame.
Mounted directly above the white plastic box on the inside of the wooden frame is a small wood box with both a steel knob and a steel butterfly bolt extending from its back side. Extending down and under the box from the knob, which has a steel loop at its center, is a brass tube.
There are two brass discs embedded in the spotlight's wooden frame, one above and one below the light.
Extending vertically from the back center of the spotlight's case is a steel tab with a steel knob through a slit near its top. Two wires with orange coating project from the spotlight and connect to two steel clips on the inside of the wooden frame. One of the wires first passes through a white plastic box, also mounted on the inside of the wooden frame.
Mounted directly above the white plastic box on the inside of the wooden frame is a small wood box with both a steel knob and a steel butterfly bolt extending from its back side. Extending down and under the box from the knob, which has a steel loop at its center, is a brass tube.
There are two brass discs embedded in the spotlight's wooden frame, one above and one below the light.
Signedon plaque bolted to front of wooden frame, top center: AMERICAN INSTRUMENT COMPANY / SILVER SPRING MARYLAND / No. 21185 SERIAL S.L.
Inscribedon white tag with object: Surveyor's spotting light for mountain top surveying. Geographical Exploration Building about 1900. Reverse side: Possibly used in connection with some South american Surveys made there by Harvard - 1920 -
FunctionFor use in illuminating landmarks or surfaces in surveying.
The tag with this spotlight indicates that it may have been used in mountain-top surveying, i.e. in determining the height of a mountain peak.
The tag with this spotlight indicates that it may have been used in mountain-top surveying, i.e. in determining the height of a mountain peak.
ProvenanceFound in Geographical Exploration Building at Harvard University about 1960.
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: RS0505
Keuffel & Esser Company
Date: 1954-1969
Accessories: mahogany case; 3/4 inch wrench; extra knobs
Object number: 1997-1-1859
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: RS0174
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1949
Accessories: instruction manual for K&E planimeters 4236, 4236M and 4242 in instrument case; instrument case; green cardboard box for instrument case; white card with instrument information inside case
Object number: 2004-1-0346
Beckman Instruments, Inc.
Date: circa 1955
Accessories: instructions attached to underside of box lid
Object number: 1996-1-0276
Joseph Zentmayer
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: Zentmayer objective with cannister: 1 1/2; paired oculars (3); Bicknell's achromatic condenser; rotating wheel diaphragm; polarizing eyepiece, polarizer by objective; camera lucida; plane glass window and brass socket; monocular tube; parts box with key; standing case with key.
Object number: 1015
Richard W. Thomas
Date: circa 1861
Accessories: bottle and beaker (1998-1-1634a); hydrometer and manual (1998-1-1634b)
Object number: 1998-1-1634
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1949
Accessories: instrument case
white card with instrument and measurement information inside instrument case
Object number: 2004-1-0344
