Fessel dumpy level
Datecirca 1870
Inventory Number5145a
ClassificationSurveyor's Level
Subject
Maker
Herman E. Fessel
late 1800s
Repaired by
Buff & Buff Manufacturing Company
1898 - 1982
User
Department of Engineering Sciences, Harvard University
founded circa 1918
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensionslevel: 17.5 × 9 × 36 cm (6 7/8 × 3 9/16 × 14 3/16 in.)
case: 11.5 × 39.2 × 21 cm (4 1/2 × 15 7/16 × 8 1/4 in.)
case: 11.5 × 39.2 × 21 cm (4 1/2 × 15 7/16 × 8 1/4 in.)
Material
Accessoriesmahogany case; sunshade; dust cover; tripod (5145b)
DescriptionBrass dumpy level with painted finish, consisting of the following major components (from top to bottom): spirit level; telescope tube; foot plate with four leveling screws.
The spirit level is suspended between two rectangular brass posts bolted to the top of the telescope tube. It has two semi-oval glass windows, each of which is marked with an unlabeled scale having twelve divisions.
The telescope tube has knurling at its eyepiece end and around the eyepiece itself. Bolted to the side of the tube is a single circular knurled knob. The telescope tube sits on two brass blocks on top of the level bar.
Below the level bar is a knurled brass disc. Below this is a circular foot plate with four leveling screws. Each screw projects down through a second 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.
The dumpy level is stored in a mahogany case. Also in the case are a sunshade and a dust cover.
See also the tripod for this level, 5145b.
The spirit level is suspended between two rectangular brass posts bolted to the top of the telescope tube. It has two semi-oval glass windows, each of which is marked with an unlabeled scale having twelve divisions.
The telescope tube has knurling at its eyepiece end and around the eyepiece itself. Bolted to the side of the tube is a single circular knurled knob. The telescope tube sits on two brass blocks on top of the level bar.
Below the level bar is a knurled brass disc. Below this is a circular foot plate with four leveling screws. Each screw projects down through a second 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.
The dumpy level is stored in a mahogany case. Also in the case are a sunshade and a dust cover.
See also the tripod for this level, 5145b.
Signedengraved on instrument: (script) E. H. Fessel (gothic) Maker (script) Chicago
Inscribedon case lid in black: .L.S.S. / LEVEL NO. 8;
engraved on case lid: D. LEVEL / 8;
plaque on case lid: HARVARD UNIVERSITY / 1726;
on inside of case lid: L.S.S.8.L;
white paper label on box lid: SPECIAL ! / IN CASE OF REPAIR BEING NECESSARY, REMEMBER / the maerks of this instrument will pay expressage one way, and since they have all the tools, sizes and parts on hand, can save you considerable and do a far better repair than anyone else / MARK BOX / BUFF & BUFF MFG CO., / Jamaica Plain Station, BOSTON, Mass. / and order us to make "complete repairs", when your instrument will be given early attention and / returned promptly. / Buff & Buff Mfg. Co.
card on inside of case lid: FRAGILE / FROM [SPACE FOR ADDRESS] / TO BUFF & BUFF MFG. CO. / SURVEYING INSTRUMENT MAKERS / Jamaica Plain Station, BOSTON Mass., U.S.A.
Curatorial RemarksThis is level 8 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.);
Although it is signed "E. H. Fessel", this instrument was most likely made by Herman E. Fessel of Chicago. See published references.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 1726 D. LEVEL 8 Buff & Buff repair label & transit label see confusion of initials: E. H. instead of H.E. recorded in Smart, Vol II p. 199 (American Surveying Instrument Makers) Rechecked by J. P. Collins 14 Oct 19975228
FunctionFor use in surveying, to measure contours.
After placing the dumpy level on a tripod (see 5145b) 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.
After placing the dumpy level on a tripod (see 5145b) 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. level 8. Received October 1961. Harvard University tag 1726.
P. & R. Wittstock
Date: circa 1900
Accessories: mahogany case; 2 sunshades; dust cover
Object number: 5146a
Troughton & Simms
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: mahogany box with brass hinges and hooks
Object number: 5232
Adie & Son
Date: circa 1850
Accessories: case; dust cap and sunshade; eyepiece
Object number: 5209
Buff & Berger
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: mahogany case; sunshade; screws; dust cover
Object number: 5143a
James E. Moody
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: mahogany case; sunshade; dust cap; tripod (5141b)
Object number: 5141a
Troughton & Simms
Date: circa 1830
Accessories: mahogany case with brass hooks and hinges, and felt protectors; additional eyepiece; magnifier; adjustable mirror; tripod mount; foot plate (5208b); tripod (5208b)
Object number: 5208a
Buff & Berger
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: mahogany case; sunshade; screws; dust cover; tripod (5144b)
Object number: 5144a
John H. Temple
Date: circa 1870
Accessories: mahogany case; sunshade; tripod (5142b)
Object number: 5142a
Frederick Eckel
Date: circa 1885
Accessories: mahogany case (top very worn); lens hood; sunshade; tripod, see 5151b
Object number: 5151a
Keuffel & Esser Company
Date: circa 1909
Accessories: mahogany case with brass corner protectors and lock; key; sunshade; dust cover; tripod (5147b)
Object number: 5147a
Troughton & Simms
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: mahogany box with brass handle; sun shade for telescope
Object number: 5234
