Buff & Buff Y level
Datecirca 1938
Inventory Number1989-1-0025
ClassificationSurveyor's Level
Subject
Maker
Buff & Buff Manufacturing Company
1898 - 1982
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionslevel: 21.3 × 11.3 × 46.4 cm (8 3/8 × 4 7/16 × 18 1/4 in.)
case: 24.7 × 51.5 × 15.6 cm (9 3/4 × 20 1/4 × 6 1/8 in.)
case: 24.7 × 51.5 × 15.6 cm (9 3/4 × 20 1/4 × 6 1/8 in.)
Material
Accessoriessunshield; mahogany box with brass hinges and hooks; brass butterfly nut
DescriptionBrass Y level consisting of the following major components (from top to bottom): a telescope tube in two Y supports; a spirit level; and a foot plate with four leveling screws.
The body of the telescope tube is finished in black; its knurled eyepiece and end cap are in exposed brass. A knurled knob, also exposed brass, is bolted to the top of the telescope tube at its center. The two Y supports are fixed to a plain black level bar. A brass screw with a circular knurled knob holds each Y support closed.
A spirit level is suspended from two brass posts welded to the bottom of the telescope tube. It has two oval glass windows. Printed in black on each window is a scale. The leftmost window's scale has values descending from 18 to 2. The rightmost window's scale has values ascending from 2 to 18. The level tube is finished in black.
Directly below the level bar, around the vertical spindle, is a teardrop-shaped brass piece, finished in black and with a knurled knob at its pointed end.
The exposed-brass footplate is circular, with knurled edges. On top of it are four brass leveling screws, each with a knurled knob, extending into a brass piece shaped like a four-pointed star.
The instrument is stored in a wooden box with two brass clasps. A sunshield is also stored in the box. Glued to the inside of the box lid is a butterfly nut.
The body of the telescope tube is finished in black; its knurled eyepiece and end cap are in exposed brass. A knurled knob, also exposed brass, is bolted to the top of the telescope tube at its center. The two Y supports are fixed to a plain black level bar. A brass screw with a circular knurled knob holds each Y support closed.
A spirit level is suspended from two brass posts welded to the bottom of the telescope tube. It has two oval glass windows. Printed in black on each window is a scale. The leftmost window's scale has values descending from 18 to 2. The rightmost window's scale has values ascending from 2 to 18. The level tube is finished in black.
Directly below the level bar, around the vertical spindle, is a teardrop-shaped brass piece, finished in black and with a knurled knob at its pointed end.
The exposed-brass footplate is circular, with knurled edges. On top of it are four brass leveling screws, each with a knurled knob, extending into a brass piece shaped like a four-pointed star.
The instrument is stored in a wooden box with two brass clasps. A sunshield is also stored in the box. Glued to the inside of the box lid is a butterfly nut.
Signedon brass plate attached to level bar: BUFF & BUFF MFG. Co. / 19816 / BOSTON ;
on paper glued inside box lid: [BUFF advertisement]
on metal plate on lid of box: [BUFF trademark] ;
on metal plate on lid of box: SOLD BY / N. O. BLUE PRINT / & SUPPLY CO. INC. / 825 UNION ST. / NEW ORLEANS
Curatorial Remarksnote originally in Curatorial Remarks: "illustrated trade label Buff & Buff original finish deteriorating----conservation is needed Rechecked by J. P. Collins on 14 Oct 1997"
FunctionFor use in surveying, to measure contours.
After placing the Y level, on a tripod, at his starting location, the user levels the instrument by means of the spirit level and the four 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 Y level, on a tripod, at his starting location, the user levels the instrument by means of the spirit level and the four 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.
Buff & Berger
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: mahogany case; sunshade; screws; dust cover; tripod (5144b)
Object number: 5144a
Buff & Berger
Date: circa 1890
Accessories: mahogany case with lock (key not found); leather strap; screwdriver; dust cover; sunshade; tripod, see 5149b
Object number: 5149a
Buff & Berger
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: mahogany case; sunshade; screws; dust cover
Object number: 5143a
Frederick Eckel
Date: circa 1885
Accessories: mahogany case (top very worn); lens hood; sunshade; tripod, see 5151b
Object number: 5151a
Troughton & Simms
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: mahogany box with brass handle; sun shade for telescope
Object number: 5234
Iszard-Warren Co., Inc.
Date: circa 1910
Accessories: mahogany case with brass corners and lock; key missing; leather strap; screwdriver; dust cover; sunshade; tripod, see 5150b
Object number: 5150a
R. Iseli
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: walnut case with two adjustment tools, objective lens cap, and lens shade; Iseli trade card (inside box lid)
Object number: 5229
Edward Nairne
Date: circa 1790
Accessories: mahogany box with clasp closure
Object number: 5228
C. L. Berger & Sons
Date: circa 1902
Accessories: pine case with lock (key not found); screwdriver; leather strap; sunshade; dust cover; tripod (see 5161b)
Object number: 5161a
James E. Moody
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: mahogany case; sunshade; dust cap; tripod (5141b)
Object number: 5141a
Keuffel & Esser Company
Date: circa 1909
Accessories: mahogany case with brass corner protectors and lock; key; sunshade; dust cover; tripod (5147b)
Object number: 5147a