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. ?ÿThe facility had bought some adjoining land this past summer and an expansion is in the works ?? 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 ?? 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? ?ÿ 😆 ?ÿI 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.
Back in the early 70s we (USFS) had a several DKM 2s, a DKM 1, but only a few Kern tripods (both wood/aluminum & all aluminum). The Kern instruments were the bomb, but we didn't have enough Kern tripods. We had a boat load of Wild tripods though. We had a local machinist make up several "adaptors" so that we could mix and match tripods and guns.
I loved that little DKM 1, you could pretty much put it in your pocket when you moved setups. The rotating micrometer scope was great for astro shots too.?ÿ
Loyal
Bought a brand new Kern DKM 2AE with wood centering rod tripod in late 1960's from Ben Meadows in Atlanta, Georgia. Fast setup and excellent angles.?ÿ Impressive quality of workmanship. Sold in 1981 to CCL Consultants, Pompano Beach, Florida.
Used Kern equipment for several years.?ÿ Top?ÿ quality stuff and I really liked the forced centering rod feature.?ÿ A plus was the natural wood finish tripod and muted green instrument which didn't attract bees, wasps and hummingbirds.
The DKM2 AE that I ran for a while was, without a doubt, the best theodolite I ever ran. It had a DM500 distance meter aboard that only read in meters. I'll remember 3.2808333 forever I guess. The optics were amazing and the repeatability of the angles was great. The "fourth leg" tripods were great unless you had to set up over a raised point such as a right of way monument. The lack of "run out" on the leveling screws made that tough.
Andy
Some years ago I bought a DKM2AE that appears to have been dropped or bonked against something.?ÿ It's in good shape outside -- still turns freely, as I recall -- but the micrometer display inside is askew.?ÿ It's not worth having professionally repaired, so I thought I'd try my hand at restoring some of its functionality, just for fun.?ÿ But an initial effort at loosening the side cover screws didn't get me anywhere, so I put it away intending to try again another time.?ÿ That was maybe 5 years ago.
Anyone here ever open one of these up??ÿ I don't know if I'm fighting Locktite, old age or a left-hand thread, but those screws are really tight!
my experience with repairing water tight equipment like watch, cameras and some old surveying levels is that they sometimes have some form of water sealant?ÿ around the screw before they are screwed in place. Over time, these sealants?ÿ melt into a glue like mess and enters the screw hole which then tightens it further. You can use a hairdryer to melt the sealant a bit and this may loosen its grip on the screw.
"The "fourth leg" tripods were great unless you had to set up over a raised point such as a right of way monument."
Yep. Had forgotten about that little problem.
Hi Jim,
I have a couple of DKM2AEs for industrial alignment. Also 1 I bought "for parts." It has a problem with the horizontal circle bearings - heavy water damage. Things got slow when covid hit so I decided to disassemble and inspect. Very complex instrument. Needs new bearing races or refurbishing. Just cleaned up and put it back together just to see if I could. May do full repair later.
The service manual is available for a fee here:
https://shop.wild-heerbrugg.com/product_info.php?products_id=700&language=en
I would have been lost without it.
I took lots of pics and can send you a link to them if you like.
Greg
GAZ Consulting, LLC
@jim-frame?ÿ ?ÿ I have a DKM2 that I got from someone on this board about 6-8 years ago. It's perfect except the prisms inside have some coating on them that makes the scales impossible to read. I thought I could open it up and clean the prisms - wrong!.?ÿ It's now seriously messed up but I'd like to have a tripod or an adapter to set it up on for the telescope.?ÿ
I've never used the Kern tripods, but there is a firm in Putnam Co. NY using them and they do excellent work.
Ken
I took lots of pics and can send you a link to them if you like.
Yes, I'd love to see them.?ÿ I haven't touched my DKM2 since my last post on the subject, but I did think about it again just last week.?ÿ Maybe your photos will inspire me!
I bought a Kern K1-A off eBay. And it came with nearly new really nice wood Kernpod. I figured the tripod was far more valuable than the gun.?ÿ
@larry-scott Yup I bought a Kern DKM-1 on eBay advertised as cherry but was in totally wrecked condition with internal damage so you couldn't even read the micrometers. But it came with a pristine tripod which panned out out concerning price.
Hi Jim,
Sorry for the delay in posting.
Pics are here: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqh9DdqEhP16j6kxmzIluTSfF6ECWA?e=xqbGcp This is a link to my OneDrive. Let me know if there are any problems.
Really an amazing piece of engineering.
Greg