Here's an example of the sort of European spirit levels with short telescopes, excellent optics, and fairly compact designs that replaced the traditional dumpy levels in US surveying. This is a Kern NK3 bought by the Texas Highway Department in the early 1960's (my guess).
Note the die-cast aluminum case with leather carrying strap. The instrument shows light field use on the motion screws and focus rings.
My guess as to year of manufacture is partly based upon the Houston vendor's label inside the cover. No zip code and the telephone number has the alphabetic prefix of the exchange.
This is yet another one of the instruments that my late colleague Charles Swart collected.
Kent,
that level and case look to be in good shape. what power are the optics?
on another note: it's interesting to see how things change due to technology and sheer numbers of users as evidenced by the phone number. i still remember the first phone number in my life, Broadway(BR)6-5521. i might have to call it some day and ask for myself. 😉
Kent,
I couldn't tell from the pics if yours has the tilting optics making it a parallel plate micrometer.
Here is some info that may be of use to you from when I last tried to sell mine. http://beerleg.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=57039#p57260
Ignore the good prof. comments of a "paperweight"
Jim Vianna
> I couldn't tell from the pics if yours has the tilting optics making it a parallel plate micrometer.
That Kern NK3 that my late colleague's estate has for sale does not come with a parallel plate micrometer. It looks to me (possibly mistakenly) more like the sort of level one would use for construction staking and other ordinary similar leveling tasks.
> That Kern NK3 that my late colleague's estate has for sale does not come with a parallel plate micrometer. It looks to me (possibly mistakenly) more like the sort of level one would use for construction staking and other ordinary similar leveling tasks.
Oops. On further investigation, I find that is actually a top-of-the-line Kern level, second only to the NK3-M with parallel plate micrometer. In both the Wild and Kern lines the numeric suffix indicated the approximate rank in accuracy, 0's being at the bottom and the 3's and 4's at the top.
based on the serial number this Kern NK3 was produced in 1956 and list price in Germany in 1957 was 1335.- DM including the tripod
> based on the serial number this Kern NK3 was produced in 1956 and list price in Germany in 1957 was 1335.- DM including the tripod
Interesting. If the exchange rate of DM to USD was about the 1DM = $0.24US, that 1335DM was about $320US in 1956. Adjusted for inflation, that would be roughly equivalent to $2700 in current USD.