In an ideal world, I'd post photos of all of the items that I saw today. However, taking a tip from the Leica marketing department, I won't. (Actually, I left my camera at the office of the collector whose estate had them for sale. I'll pick it up on Monday or Tuesday and post the photos.)
In my opinion, the finest working instrument of the group is a Kern DKM2 one-second theodolite with the Wild Heerbrugg T-1 tied for second with either the K&E First-order tilting level or the Wild N2 level.
The Kern DKM2 theodolite is stunningly compact, of course, and in pristine condition. It appears to have been used in an industrial metrology setting considering the red lacquer painted on all of the screws that are adjusted in calibration. I'm thinking aircraft plant, but am not certain. The finish is simply too perfect to have been used in everyday land surveying, even by the most meticulous surveyor.
So, the DKM2 is very nice, but the Wild Heerbrugg T-1 is not far behind. It's about a 1965 model with a trough compass and shows some actual evidence of field use in the wear patterns on the clamp and motion screws. The finish and optics are immaculate and it comes with both the bullet case and the pyramidal (wooden) transport case with the "MADE IN SWITZERLAND" stencil lest there be any doubt whatsoever.
However, just for sheer vibes, the N2 level has an embossed Dymo label that reads "HWY 35" identifying it as one of the levels used in running the primary control for Interstate Highway 35 in the early 1960's. It's a Texas Highway Department instrument, but in perfect condition. The dealer's label, R.L. Sargent in Houston, doesn't have a zip code for their address. It's just Houston 2, Texas.
The other instruments include some really interesting specimens, including one first-order tilting level that Keuffel & Esser built for the U.S.C. & G.S. ca. 1920 (my guess). The descriptions will have to wait for photos.
My vote for the most incredible surveying instument? my Sokkia L1 Stratus! 😀
Less than $1000/pc when I bought them used several years ago. Light as a
feather compared to a T1 & gives me 1cm accuracy for 5km or less baselines!
> My vote for the most incredible surveying instument? my Sokkia L1 Stratus!
Ah, but you're speaking of a black box where the elves make ethereal measurements and write it all down in some undecipherable language that requires the payment of large sums of money to make sense of. These instruments are from an earlier age when surveying instruments required skill to be operated, unlike GPS receivers which require mostly a knowledge of which buttons to press in what sequence..
The beauty of these classic instruments is that they are magnificently made objects, each a triumph of precision machining and refined optics. Their outputs are readily read and tested without any annual subscription to some "support" office. Oh, and they came with relatively brief operating manuals that did not require the payment of an annual fee. :>
I remember using a Wild tilting level in 1968. I believe the designation was NI-2 or NA-2 rather than N-2, so probably it was a slightly different model. It survived a collision that occurred after a crew member "borrowed" the company vehicle to go out drinking after work. The steel case was dented, but we pegged the level and it was fine. The vehicle, a Dodge van, was totaled.
> I remember using a Wild tilting level in 1968. I believe the designation was NI-2 or NA-2 rather than N-2, so probably it was a slightly different model.
Actually, I was relying upon the photos to give me the manufacturer's model numbers. It may well have been an Na-2. It was the level with the split-bubble that preceded Wild's decision to copy the Zeiss design (the Zeiss Ni2) with the compensator prism suspended on fine Invar tapes.
Kent,
While I did not see the instruments of which you speak I can attest to the quality of the Kern instruments. I ran a DKMA(AE) for a couple of years. If had, without a doubt, the best quality optics of any instrument I have run before or since. The Wild level, we just called it a split bubble, that I ran took a little getting used to but ran some really tight level loops.
Andy
Kent
that is just nostalgia talking. I too from time to time get out my old Wild T1 & brush off the dirt to reminisce of those old surveying days using a heavy theodolite.
Then reality kicks in & I remember when I was the new hire in the company. When the old 4x4 could no longer go any further because of the lack of passable roads, everyone got out of the truck & started to get some equipment. I was left with those T1 in those olive green bullet cases.
After carrying those T1 for several kilometers on rough trails, you will forget about their craftsmanship & durability & you can only curse those Swiss or German engineers that fabricated everything out of stainless steel!:-X
I think that the "A" in the "NA-2" stands for "automatic" ie. with a compensator.
My N-2 is the split level type, tilting, though with the erect image.
Sincerely,
Bob Freeman
I now remember the "Ni-2" on the Zeiss levels. From your description and what Bob Freeman says below, the one I used must have been an N-2. It definitely had no compensator; you had to split the bubble on every shot. It was a small instrument, with about a 10" long scope, and very accurate.
Prof Cliff Mugnier at LSU has the most extensive and finest collections of Wild instruments I have ever seen. I was shocked when I saw all of them. A good must see for anyone passing through LSU.
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> The Kern DKM2 theodolite is stunningly compact, of course, and in pristine condition. It appears to have been used in an industrial metrology setting considering the red lacquer painted on all of the screws that are adjusted in calibration. I'm thinking aircraft plant, but am not certain. The finish is simply too perfect to have been used in everyday land surveying, even by the most meticulous surveyor.
late 80's/early 90s, I was a PC that ran photo control traverses for an NGS project and our closures were amazing and consistent in all types of field scenarios from marsh lands to urban settings.
We did 5 reps d/r and 20 distances at each set-up using the dome tripods. 4-man crew where 2 were I -man so they could split the day on the gun if they wanted to do that.
On one traverse on the fringes of civilization, we had such an outstanding closure that an LS in the office thought we had penciled whipped it.
We had some fog early in the morning and had to shorten the length of some of the traverse legs. Then we went back later and shot direct to other previously established stations and that set a red flag for them. He even 'interviewed' some of the crew privately to see if we had actually ran the traverse.
The Kern DKM2 was purchased in the 80's by the firm to lay out bridge approaches at Vidalia La/Natchez Ms.
The LS/PE who was the project director thought it was the only instrument capable at that time for the work. They also had to do some triangulation across the Mighty Mississippi.
They had a very durable finish for outdoor work. It was the 'Rolex' of survey instruments.
> After carrying those T1 for several kilometers on rough trails, you will forget about their craftsmanship & durability & you can only curse those Swiss or German engineers that fabricated everything out of stainless steel!
There is a rough trail anywhere in the Netherlands? Would that be a bicycle path that needs repaving? :> I have used genuinely heavy instruments like the early Zeiss Eltas. That Kern DKM2 and the Wild T-1 are not heavy instruments by comparison.
Roveryan-
When we ran out of motor power, back when the Earth was cooling,it was onto/into the back pack/frame.
Not a difficult task as long as we were above water level !
Cheers,
Derek
PS-
Kent-
Every once and a while when we do double interlines, I get to use the T1AE and it does a superb job with minimal throw.
Rented a Kern DKM2 in the mid 1980s to turn angles on a control project from Atlanta roadside park to the Marion-Harrison county line.
Turned 7 direct and 7 indirect flip flop style readings and set a control monument every 1100± feet.
TxDot requirements was 1:10,000 and the Engineer in charge said our Topcon 3B 5sec TS was not enough. We checked both using the same technique and there was ever so little difference in the resulting numbers. We did not have software that would allow us to key in the difference.
Was a nice gun and reminded me of running a Wild T16 with its ease of use.
Tried an ELTA series 1sec TS and it was a great angle turner with superb optics. I would have rather carried a car battery around. It was a tank of an instrument.
B-)
I started out in Italy Kent and they have all types of terrain from swamps to dry rock mountains. I am now "retired" teaching part time here in Enschede for the next few years based on my contract.
If anyone says that they enjoy carrying those heavy metal T1s then my hat off to you lads!:-P
Black Box? I was just replying to the title of the post = Incredible Surveying Instruments
For me the Stratus is an INCREDIBLE surveying instrument. Sure the RTK version is better but you have to lug around a radio transmitter & DC.
You may call it dumb box but it sure beats a T1 & steel tape any day!
> If anyone says that they enjoy carrying those heavy metal T1s then my hat off to you lads!
Well, I guess I judge everything in relation to the Zeiss total station (an Elta 46R) that I had in the backpack twenty years ago.
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and the K&E Ranger IV EDM that I was still using at the time for measuring longer lines. (You can see the return flash from the visible laser on the horizon to the left of the instrument about 6km distant if you look carefully).
The T1s that I am referring to are the ones cased in olive green metal casings that look like a large ammunition head. It has a heavy duty leather strap that goes from the side over the top of the case.
Like this one:
I think it was designed to be carried by the hand. Placing them on the back like a backpack would surely topple the balance of the guy carrying it when he goes over rugged terrain.
Not doubting your carrying style but I could not carry the T1 on my back. I would topple over when walking over rugged terrain.
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> I think it was designed to be carried by the hand. Placing them on the back like a backpack would surely topple the balance of the guy carrying it when he goes over rugged terrain.
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> Not doubting your carrying style but I could not carry the T1 on my back. I would topple over when walking over rugged terrain.
Yes, that's the same Wild T-1 I had in mind. It's is not a heavy instrument compared to the Zeiss instrument in that backpack I was carrying, or even in comparison to the Zeiss one-second theodolite, the Th2. I suppose I could weigh both instruments, but I know from having lifted them both onto tripods that the Elta is the heavier. No contest.
Kent
I don't have any pictures but I toted a T2, HP3800, battery and tripod in a backpack frame similar to that one. Thank heavens I was in my 20s at the time. I don't believe I could do that for very long now.
Andy