A couple of years ago I acquired a DKM2 and a matching Kern tripod. I had intended to display the DKM2 on the tripod but I could never get them mated up. It looked like a close fit, but something just wasn't right. Today, I figured out the problem. The DKM2 had a tiny adapter installed in the base that allowed it be used on a standard tripod head.
It's no bigger than a quarter, the set screw keeps it from falling out of the DKM2 base and the inside is threaded for 5/8"x11. I'd hate to know what this little thing cost someone back in the day.
That is the exact same thing I found in mine. I didn't notice the 5/8 threads though.
I used a DKM-2 in 76. Turned great angles with it.. Never was fond of the Kern tripod.
Back when I was with the USFS (1968-1974), we got our hands on several DKM2s and a couple of Kern Tripods. We took one of the Kern Tripods to a machinist, and had him use the TOP of the Kern Tripod to make an "adaptor" that would fit into a Wild Tribrach (we had a boat load of Wild Tripods used with Zeiss Ni2s and Wild T1&2s). It saved having to carry an additional tripod in the truck, and we could use the optical plummet in the Wild Tribrach.
Man...was that REALLY over 40 years ago?
Loyal
Stephen,
Do I understand correctly that this adapter ring prevented your instrument from attaching to your Kern tripod and now you have removed it and that it might allow a DKM-2 such as mine to attach to a tripod with 5/8 x 11 threads?
Larry Best, post: 369363, member: 763 wrote: Stephen,
Do I understand correctly that this adapter ring prevented your instrument from attaching to your Kern tripod and now you have removed it and that it might allow a DKM-2 such as mine to attach to a tripod with 5/8 x 11 threads?
Yes and No.......It did prevent my instrument from attaching to the kern tripod and now that I removed it the instrument and tripod work well together but I believe I'll hang on to it. I have more kern instruments than kern tripods so it might come in handy now that I know how to use it.
Stephen Ward, post: 369423, member: 1206 wrote: Yes and No.......It did prevent my instrument from attaching to the kern tripod and now that I removed it the instrument and tripod work well together but I believe I'll hang on to it. I have more kern instruments than kern tripods so it might come in handy now that I know how to use it.
It's been about 40 years so correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the DKM2AE that I used had such "short" leveling screws that it would be difficult to use on a "regular" tripod. The old Kern "4th leg" tripod had the head nearly level when set up and didn't require much adjustment.
By the way I liked the Kern tripods unless you had to set up over a right of way monument or something else that was very tall.
Andy
Andy Bruner, post: 369464, member: 1123 wrote: It's been about 40 years so correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the DKM2AE that I used had such "short" leveling screws that it would be difficult to use on a "regular" tripod. The old Kern "4th leg" tripod had the head nearly level when set up and didn't require much adjustment.
By the way I liked the Kern tripods unless you had to set up over a right of way monument or something else that was very tall.Andy
I haven't tried it yet, but I'd imagine that your memory is correct. Would probably have to level the tripod head by other means before mounting the instrument.
Learned on a Kern....it was the first instrument I ever touched (for salary).
Wish I had one back sometimes.
