Old Dietzgen 6000 series transit

Please post a picture

I took a look at a catalog and the 6000 is a dumpy level - not a transit. If you'll post a picture I can confirm what you have a discuss other details.

I have a (damaged) 6100 transit that has its 5-digit serial number engraved on the top of the outer rim next to the compass needle lifter knob.

Please post a picture

Here is a photo. It is a transit. The compass face say Series 6000 on it. The area near the needle lift mechanism where I see serial numbers on other units online is blank, but looks like someone may have scratched off any engraved numbers. perhaps the item was stolen back in the day. Who knows? I am trying to pin down a date range for this type of transit. I see the aluminum motion locking knobs have different styling on similar units. Maybe that will offer a date range.

Please post a picture

Looks very much like the model 6060 that shows up in my 1949 catalog. However, at that time the finish was black, not grey. I suspect the finish color is a bigger "tell" of the age than anything else. I believe this model was made for many years, but I suspect this transit would be from the '60's or later.

My first exposure to surveying was June, 1972. That is exactly the first instrument I turned angles with! Thanks for posting the picture!

Please post a picture

I have a hard cover book here in the office. It is titled, DIETZGEN A catalog of drafting and surveying supplies. The copyright date of the catalog is 1938, in the back cover it has a price list dated January 15, 1943. The catalog has a lot of transits.

This is a photograph of one of the Catalog.

A page from the catalog.

The price list January 15, 1943

A page from the price list

I would say that the photograph in question is of an instrument a good bit newer than the instruments shown in my catalog book.

It is just too nice looking to have ever been used in the field or somebody has cleaned it up a lot.

Jerry M. Davis

Please post a picture

> However, at that time the finish was black, not grey. I suspect the finish color is a bigger "tell" of the age than anything else. I believe this model was made for many years, but I suspect this transit would be from the '60's or later.

I concur. The grey hammertone and use of aluminum instead of brass on smaller fittings is a definite indication of the sixties. Actually it appears to be very serviceable instrument. Take it out and wrap some angles to see what she'll do.

Please post a picture

It is quite serviceable and has seen some field use, showing some surface wear through the black lacquer. Luckily the scope has survived in good condition. The optics are not scratched at all, the cross hairs and stadia focus up very clearly and show no parallax. There are some bumps and bruises here and there, but none of the wrinkle finish paint is chipped anywhere.

The lower and upper motions are smooth as silk and the verniers are in good shape and very legible with no corrosion. The vertical motion is very nice, as well. I need to get it outside on the old tripod it came with and check the levels for calibration. Although I acquired the thing mostly to display it, I do intend to use it to locate some structures on my survey map of some acreage I own.

Although I am not a civil engineer or land surveyor by profession, I am an engineer in the tool and die business and have always greatly appreciated well made, precisely fit and assembled devices. These old transits certainly are that. The workmanship, fit and finish is sweet. They don't make stuff like this anymore, I' m afraid. Now that these old units are obsolete and much more affordable, an ameteur like me can have some fun with a fully functional piece of history.

Please post a picture

I had one like this, a 6000 Series with the rounded end caps and knobs. It was a 30" vernier and was a Jim Dandy instrument. Ran many miles or pipe line and telephone cable routes with it, as well as property surveys. It also had a solar circle reticle and I took many sunshots with it projecting the suns image on a white paper behind the eye end of the scope.

I sold it for $600, I think, when I shut dowm my business in 1987. Also am sure it was made in the middle to late 1960's. I still may have some of the documentaion for this in an old equipment file folder somewhere in my records.

Documentation

If you happen upon any documentation that is specific to this model transit, let me know what you have and if you want to sell it

Chris

Documentation

I'll have to do some searching to see if I can find the old file folder for my old unit. Whenever I think I can readily lay my hands on an item, it never seems to work out that way. I will look where I think it is and will get back to you tomorrow, hopefully at the latest.

Documentation

> If you happen upon any documentation that is specific to this model transit, let me know what you have and if you want to sell it
>
> Chris

Chris:

Guess what? I found the folder where I thought it was, but there was not much in it. An installment note showing the purchase price of $500 and the Serial No. 52897 of the transit. The Original purchase date was November 19, 1968, from an Engineering/Reproduction/Drafting Supply firm in Casper, Wyoming. Whether it was purchased new or used, I don't know. It was purchased by a guy I went to work for in 1969, bought in with in 1972 and formed the Corporation, and took over the operation of in 1973, and bought the Corporation in January, 1974. Anything else that may have been in the folder, I probably gave to the person I sold it to.

Anyway, the Serial No. will probably give you the date when the instrument was manufactured.

I hope this will be of some help to you.

Documentation

No problem.
Thanks for looking and the serial number range wil be helpful.

Documentation

I did a search for "Dietzgen Transit" and there is a lot of stuff listed. According to the S/N, the one I had was made between 1966 & 1967. Another site had one similar listed for $1000, said it was almost like new. Didn't give any specs on circle readings or any other options.