Images(3)

Moody Y level

Datecirca 1880

Inventory Number5141a

ClassificationSurveyor's Level

Subject

Maker James E. Moody 1848 - 1913

Repaired by Buff & Buff Manufacturing Company 1898 - 1982

Owner Department of Engineering Sciences, Harvard University founded circa 1918

Cultural Region

Place of Origin

Dimensionslevel: 18.6 × 9.5 × 41.6 cm (7 5/16 × 3 3/4 × 16 3/8 in.)
case: 13.2 × 44.8 × 22.5 cm (5 3/16 × 17 5/8 × 8 7/8 in.)

Material

Accessoriesmahogany case; sunshade; dust cap; tripod (5141b)

DescriptionBrass Y level consisting of the following major components (from top to bottom): telescope tube in two Y supports; spirit level with attached scale; foot plate with four leveling screws.

The telescope tube has knurling at the end nearest the eyepiece. Bolted on the side of the tube at its center is a single knob, with two knurled rings around its edge. Clamped around the tube to either side of this knob are two brass rings, which protect the tube from contact with the Y supports.

The hinged top portion of each Y support is held closed by a brass pin with a circular knurled knob. Tied around each knob is a string, which is also looped around the closest end of the level bar.

A spirit level is suspended from two brass bars bolted to the bottom of the telescope tube. The spirit level has one rectangular glass window. Bolted perpindicular to the top of the level tube is a long silver (?) plate engraved with two scales. The leftmost scale has values descending from 20 to 0. The rightmost scale has values ascending from 0 to 20. Both scales are graduated into ones.

Below the level bar is a circular foot plate with four leveling screws. Each screw projects down through a second, slightly smaller disc before coming to rest on the footplate. Around the center of each screw is a circular knob having two knurled rings around its edge.

Above the smaller disc are two small boxes projecting out from the vertical spindle. Projecting out from each box is a knob. One knob is circular, with two knurled rings around its edge; the other knob is key-shaped.

The Y level is stored in a mahogany case. Also in the case are a sunshade and a dust cover for the objective end of the telescope.

See also the tripod for this level, 5141b.

Signedengraved on top of level bar: Jas. E. Moody / Maker / Boston ; pasted in case: [Buff & Buff repair label]; on card in box: D. E. Van Farowe

Inscribedetched on edge of level bar: 2

Curatorial RemarksThis is level 2 in a series of at least twelve levels once belonging to Harvard's Department of Engineering. (CHSI has levels numbered 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24.)

FunctionFor use in surveying, to measure contours.

After placing the Y level on a tripod (see 5141b) at his starting location, the user levels the instrument by means of the spirit level and the leveling screws. Then he sights a stadia rod through the telescope, moving the rod as needed until the target is centered behind the telescope's cross hairs. The difference in height between the telescope and the rod target indicates the gain in elevation over the horizontal distance between the two.

ProvenanceDepartment of Engineering, Harvard University, L.S.S. Y level 2. Received October 1961. Harvard University tag 1720.