My dad, Bud Uzes, loved surveying history, instruments and books. He authored Chaining the Land (in 1977) and the Illustrated Price Guide to Antique Surveying Instruments and Books (in 1980). In 1995 I created The Compleat Surveyor business to help him in his never-ending quest to find more old instruments and books, and I’m still buying and selling old surveying instruments, catalogues and books.

I’ve built a large website dedicated to the history of surveying. While the website list the books and instruments I’m currently offering for sale, the website also is a depository of a great deal of surveying history. You can find a great number of old surveying textbooks and instruments catalogues in PDF form on my website, for example. You will also find a large listing of American instrument makers, with a particular focus on some of the most important makers, like the Rittenhouses, the Chandlees, and the Gurley firm.