So, through almost no fault of my own (other than me buying it 🙂 ), I'm now the owner of a Leitz-Sokkisha TM20C (including a Red1A distance meter). I'm guessing it will work as a rather large paperweight, and to watch the birds and occaisional sea lion outside my office window. Don't laugh - it was a donation to a good cause.
Trouble is, it doesn't come with a manual, and I haven't been able to find a free one online thus far. I did find one available for $17, but I'd prefer to try my hand at finding a free electronic copy first, for obvious reasons.
That said, does anyone know where I could go to find one? I've tried google books, and general searches through a couple of search engines, but no luck.
Thanks,
Paul
I thought I could help, but turns out that the manual I had laying around was for a SDM3E.
I happen to have here a brand-new (but dated 1983) instruction manual for the TM20C, as well as a likewise brand-new (dated 1981) operation manual for the RED1A.
Since these are of no earthly use to me, I would be glad to mail (assuming you are in the US of A) them to you at no charge.
You can contact me via the e-mail icon in my profile, send me your mailing address and they will be on their way.
Put "Lietz/Sokkisha manuals" in the subject line so I don't discard the e-mail.
I have just purchased a sokkisha TM20c, old, but in ok shape. If you are willing to part with your manual, I'm sure I could get all the information I need from it and would appriciate it very much.
My name is;
Perry Iammarino
1733 Forrest ave.
Baltimore Md. 21234
Thank You
I just got to thinking.... due to the use of electronic total stations, will we remember how to use the micrometer on the older total stations? Will we call it "How quaint"?
I used to have a tm-20c. With a Autoranger S on top. I guess I wish it were still in my possession. It has mount standards to place an edm on top. Good gun.
1840, ya get a good rittenhouse compass, and make your own chain, and buy a few axes, and you are in business!
1920 ya buy a good Adolph Leitz transit, and a good tape, and build America.
1940 ya buy a good theodolite, and tape...
1970, ya get a TM20c, with an edm on top
1980, well, the edm and theodolite are combined, and you shoot angle and distance together.
1985, well, now we use that data collector.
1995 well, now the DC is hooked to the GPS.
2012. well, where is the old total station? Lightsquared is takin over. (these guys PLAN to win, and push us out, cause the teenagers who want all the time texting and internet don't know a surveyor anywhere that needs the band space...)
OK OK, I'm off a bit, but maybe that TM20c ain't so bad after all!
(had a good tribrach under it too!)
I never saw a manual for my tm20c. What is in that manual, that a surveyor cannot figure out on his own anyway? Dunno. Never saw one!
N
Long gone -
I mailed the only Lietz/Sokkisha TM20C manual I had to the original poster back in April.
As Nate says, the TM20C is pretty much the same as any micrometer theodolite. General textbook instructions on using a micrometer would apply to the TM20C, so there is not much to be gained from the manual anyway.
GB
If you would like, I can tell you how to zero it, and run it.
Crank the micrometer clockwise, to the end, then, while looking through the eyepiece, zero it first.
then, loosen BOTH tangent screws. Spin the plat, until you set it also to ZERO. (while locking the upper tangent, and dialing in a ZERO with the upper tangent screw) Now, it is ZEROED. Now, you can use the lower tangent to SET it pointing at the backsite.
Now, loosen the upper tangent. Point it to the foresite. then, rotate the micrometer, until it is on an even degree, or an even 10', or even 20' Now, you have degrees, minutes, and seconds. In several places to read...
Paul, post: 62215, member: 624 wrote: So, through almost no fault of my own (other than me buying it 🙂 ), I'm now the owner of a Leitz-Sokkisha TM20C (including a Red1A distance meter). I'm guessing it will work as a rather large paperweight, and to watch the birds and occaisional sea lion outside my office window....
Paul,
Your post brought a tear to my eye. I Hope you find your manual. The manual I have is tucked inside the instrument case of the one that I purchased new in about 1983, where it will remain. In today's world I can see how someone wouldn't have much use for a 30 year old 20 second transit. But as good as a paperweight as your Sokkisha it may make, it had (and still has) a good function.
That was the first instrument I bought new. About six months later I purchased a used K&E AutoRanger (similar to the Red1) and had the transit modified to accept the EDM. Although I don't have the EDM anymore, I still have the transit. It and I share a lot of memories. With that transit and EDM combo I successfully completed a three section boundary in rough country, with about 17 legs, and the raw numbers closed 1:65,000. That set-up also paid for a house, put an ungrateful (now) ex-wife through college and helped raise two sons. I used it to layout more subdivisions that I can even remember. I think I paid $1895 for it brand new (I might be wrong) and lost sleep wondering if I could make my "equipment payment" that month. I have a lot of love and respect for that old gun. It and I grew up and old together.
So if you must use it for paperweight, use it on important papers. Place it in a spot of honor and keep it clean and operable. And there would be absolutely nothing wrong with actually taking it outdoors and using it, the old hunk might even enjoy it every now and again. 😉
Stephen Ward, post: 62224, member: 1206 wrote: I thought I could help, but turns out that the manual I had laying around was for a SDM3E.
contact me about the SDM3E manual, mine disappeared after a tune up and nobody knows anything......
The main thing you can't do without a manual is the dip switch settings.
s u r v o n 1 @ y a h o o dot c o m
tyia
