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Anyone Still Using Kern Centering-Rod Tripods for Real Work?
Last Monday I was in southern NH for a dog agility competition. As I started walking my dog outside, in an ice storm, I noticed a Kern centering-rod tripod on the grounds, supporting a prism. I looked around and spotted a Leica total station 100-some yards away, also on the same kind of tripod. The facility had bought some adjoining land this past summer and an expansion is in the works ƒ?? the surveyors were shooting topo. The crew of two were walking to their truck, and as I passed by I said to Guy #1 that it was neat to see those Kern tripods in use. His response was pretty much: “Yeah?” I think he just wanted to get into the truck to escape the freezing rain for a while.
When I passed by again on my way back to the building, the crew were getting out of the truck, and Guy #2 was chattier than #1 and commented on how I had noticed the Kern tripods. I told him about the DKM 1 and multiple DKM 2 theodolites I have, along with a near-mint Kern 173W tripod. He found that interesting or at least amusing.
Is anyone here still using Kern centering-rod tripods for real work? I think I’ve seen some mention in posts from several years ago, but I’m curious if this is still the case.
I was back to the site again on Tuesday, and Guy #1 (now chattier too ƒ?? the weather was better) had set up the TS right next to a narrow path through a line of big boulders, the path where competitors would quickly run their dogs for a relief break before going in the ring. I told him that if he saw a person and his/her dog start to pause when passing by, that he should get ready for his tripod legs to be “baptized.” Later in the morning, Guy #1 was off a good ways having a cigarette break, with Guy #2 nowhere to be seen, and the TS standing by itself, with asphalt pavement on one side and those big boulders on the other, and people and dogs rushing by less than a couple of feet away. Confident or foolhardy? 😆 I had meant to get a closer look at the TS’s tribrach, which had a Kern-compatible bottom and the usual Wild-style 3-pin top; I was curious about its manufacturer or origin.
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