With the snow still hanging in there, and the deer moving closer to the house
I finally had the time to conclude a three year restoration project on a 6" Gurley vernier compass with a rare telescope attachment that I picked up at an auction. The only other telescope of this type that I have seen is in the collection of the Smithsonian link The compass dates to between 1852 and 1876 and the telescope has a patent date of 7/9/1878.
Besides a full disassemble and cleaning, I had to install new cross hairs and have one of the sight vanes re-tooled along with a few missing knobs manufactured.
Now when the weather breaks I hope to set it up in the backyard and align the telescope to the compass and run an actual traverse to test it's accuracy.
My secretary is less than impressed with this undertaking.
Respectfully,
Jim Vianna
Very nice!
You are welcome to send it on over to me for a complimentary calibration. I cannot guarantee, however, that it won't get "lost" during transit (pun intended).
Wow! very nice. What is the least division reading on the compass? How much does it weigh?
DEER PIC
Out my office window last week, since that we got 2 more feet of snow.
uuuggghhh!
> Wow! very nice. What is the least division reading on the compass? How much does it weigh?
Instrument can be read to the nearest minute. Weight of the compass and Jacobs staff adapter is 9 1/2 lbs not including the telescope. Really needs to be on a tripod rather than a staff.
Here is a pic before restoration:
I should note that according to the 1874 Gurley manual the vernier's main use was to orientate to an existing line (adjusting for magnetic variation) with a "less important use" of reading to the nearest minute.
Jim Vianna
> My secretary is less than impressed with this undertaking.
I like this kind of "secretary". 😉 :dog: :good:
Where do you hook up the data collector?
Dig it!
That is one beautiful instrument...good job...
Nice! Do you also 'Calibrate' plumb-bobs? Because I know a whole bunch of green Rodmen, who will pay good money for this service!
LOL...what size battery?
DDSM
:beer:
Mt. Rushmore just crumbled because you linked those words into a sentence (In replying to that post) If I were one of our older more archaic counter-parts, I would chase you away with my cane while screaming 'button pusher!' Which is obviously some type of Wizardry..LOL
Nice job, well done Jim !
TU
Cheers
Derek
After polishing, what did you coat the bright finish with?
> After polishing, what did you coat the bright finish with?
A very thin lacquer mixture resulting from mixing shellac with mineral spirits and then applying it to heated parts, which is how they did it originally. It took three attempts to get the proportions correct.
