Hi all,
I bought a Keuffel and Esser survey set at a neighborhood estate sale back in 2005. At the time I bought it because it looked so interesting, not because I have a background in surveying. I am thinking of selling it as we are down-sizing and I won't have a place to display it. I have no idea what this is worth but thought I'd post the question here for advice. The surveyor is beautiful and looks to be in perfect condition. It comes in its original box (looks like redwood or mahogany). The box has two latches and a key. Any guidance is appreciated.
Thank you
-Rudy
Post a few pictures. Are all of the accessories in the box?
DDSM
Here's a few pics
What are you asking for it? The email in my profile is good.
That is a fine collectible. Put an opening bid with 10% of the winning bid going to Beerleg!
DDSM
(turned down one with a aux. mining telescope the other day down in Jefferson Texas for $500..chime in here Dave Ingram)
K & E Engineer's Transit made after 1966
The green paint and serial number I think date that instrument to the late 1960's. So it isn't a particularly old instrument. I'd guess 1967 or 1968.
It appears to be in excellent condition and has a complete set of accessories (although I'm thinking the plumb bob isn't original). I'd be surprised if it sold for more than $500.00, even with the accessories it has. It's the same basic instrument that K&E made probably tens of thousands of, so the rarity is low.
In today's market $500 would be a high end price and only because the transit appears to be on very good condition with the accessories intact.
Wrong plumb bob but has the magnifying glass and non magnetic declination adjuster which are usually gone.... original screwdriver too .... $500 is about right... but not for me.... another issue is this could have the glass reticle with the etched stadia lines which are notoriously spotty with mold only fix is to replace with an old style reticle having crosswires made from good old black widow silk.
Interesting memory..
The label on the inside of the case states that the stadia constant is fixed at 1:100.
I used an older K&E for a number of years that had a label in the case that was printed: "Stadia Constant - 1:__________", with only an underlined blank. The numbers "98.1" were hand written into the blank.
One of the older surveyors explained to me that the location of the stadia hairs was an attempt to approach 1:100, but had to be checked after construction at the factory. After a rigor of observations the "trued" stadia constant was written in the case by the factory. We indeed used .981 as a reduction factor on stadia shots with that gun and it checked out.
Although I never looked into it any further, this seems plausible to me. We had newer Nikons that had etched cross-hairs instead of spider-web. All of those used a constant of 1:100.
Interesting memory..
Thanks everyone for all the great information. The plum bob is probably not original, as it has a 'strait-line 5 oz' 'Made in Taiwan' marking on it. All the other accessories appear to be original. I'm adding a few more close up pics. Is there any significance to 'Paragon'? This is on the main glass screen. I also have a tripod that came with it. It has a K&E marking, serial 780015. I've included a few pics.
Interesting memory..
As kent said for the date, not to long after 1966
http://www.surveyhistory.org/how_old_is_my_k_&_e%20Instrument.htm
Interesting memory..
Paragon is the model name. It has a 1 minute vernier, not worth very much.
> Wrong plumb bob but has the magnifying glass and non magnetic declination adjuster which are usually gone.... original screwdriver too
Interesting that the transit accessories include the pointed feet that I assume screwed into the aluminum plate the instrument is mounted on to turn it into a trivet. Where would the user of the transit have ever expected to find a pillar with the radially grooved mark to set the trivet on?
Just a guess, but since it would be so difficult to set exactly over a point by using the box board/trivit point setup, maybe they only used it this way for leveling. I have a few builder levels that have trivit plates for just such a thing.
Interesting memory..
That is the tripod they sold with their builder level. The Paragon usually shipped with a much nicer tripod. It was the top of the line K&E
> turned down one with a aux. mining telescope the other day down in Jefferson Texas for $500.
Did you visit the Museum of Measurement and Time while you were in Jefferson?
Interesting memory..
Paragons were made in many configurations, 5 6 and even 7 inch versions. Least read verniers varied as well. The big Paragon Highway instruments had dual speed dials, and 20' division verniers. Skilled sets will round up things to within a very few seconds. 40x eyepieces on some.
Paragon is their high spec finsh for anything in their line. Only the Mark One items stand above Paragon in K&E products.
Interesting memory..
My paragon is a 20 second instrument. I thought that's what the Paragon name meant!
Best instrument ever made for day to day work, old school....
I live in Lakeway, TX (NW of Austin) if anyone wants to drop by and take a look and/or make an offer. Shoot me an email for directions and time if interested. Sounds like $500 OBO incl. tripod is a good starting point based on what information you've provided and a little 'googling'. I'd much rather sell to survey pro's who will appreciate the tool than craigslist but there could be a few collectors there as well. Shipping & handling would be additional if required.
Thanks for all the responses!
Interesting memory..
My former employer had several 20" Paragons. I think 30" was common too.
The photo above shows a 1 minute vernier.