suggestions about an auction of used surveying equipment

They will give you sort of a self test, but that will not really tell you if they are good or not. Sure level it up, turn it on, spin telescope 360 along both axis and it should clear and show an angle on the screen. Depending on the model, you may even be able to measure a distance (how to measure is model specific so could not even begin to tell to someone who does not know what they are looking at). But even if both of those gave you numbers, the ONLY way you could be sure it works is to set each gun on a baseline and measure the angles and distances on those baselines. Each gun could have angular errors because of a warped axis (say it got dropped or carried on the tripod slung over a shoulder) and they could have distance errors, but someone who does not know what they are looking at would never know it.

Ever heard of buying a pig in a poke? I would say that buying something at auction where you do not even know if it is any good would be the modern equivalent.

Your best bet is to get a list of the make and models then google them or ask on here about a particular instrument. I would not count on any of the batteries being charged up though. You might get lucky but you can really only test if the gun turns on and off without using a CBL (Calibrated Base Line).

And don't discount the worth just because an instrument is old or even non battery driven. A good T-2 or T-16 still brings in a good price because of their quality and especially the optics.

If this was a liquidation of a survey business that has gone under or closed up it's doors then likely the equipment will be in good working condition or hopefully you can talk to the seller (surveyor) and find out more about each one. I've had nothing but good luck when dealing directly with another surveyor.

You said you have some pictures. Post them. Most of us can identify an instrument by it's design alone.

Just one word of caution. Don't try to sell them on here as a company though. That's a huge no-no and will get you banned. We don't mind helping you identify them but you have to take out an ad if you want to commercially sell on this site.

Good Luck today!

You might find a local surveyor, or even an instrument man (employee) to go with you for a small fee....course he might bid against you.

In many instances a level or total station could have been dropped and doesn't show any outside damage if it hit the dirt. The cost to get one adjusted could be cost prohibited and as a seller you really don't know what you have from just outside appearances. I only buy instruments from a dealer who specializes in the adjustment of equipment and shows me the adjustment work order done on the instrument before I purchase. I've been burned by instruments bought elsewhere that looked great on the outside.

If there is any sort of damage or scuffs on the outside that is a huge red flag. No high precision instrument can be dropped and not be internally damaged.

Many of the batteries for the older electronic instruments are now obsolete and have to be rebuilt because they won't take a charge. Just some things to think about.

We don't know what you are looking at. Often lay people confuse levels and even GPS receivers with total stations.

A level is an instrument you can look through but it only turns about the vertical axis (the telescope doesn't go up and down). These come in optical models (no batteries required) and electronic digital models which require a special rod that looks like a giant bar code.

This is a Zeiss NI2 (older):

Leica digital level:

A total station is an instrument that you can look through. It measures angles and distances (distances are measured with a laser). The telescope rotates in all directions.
This is a Leica 1100 series total station. This one is a TCA, you want TCRA (it is written on the box):

Ignore the tripod. In fact if they have any good tripods (Crain or Dutch Hill) I might give you something for them.

Deral mentioned T-2s and T-16s. Those are Wild Heerbrugg theodolites. They measure angles but not distances. A Wild T-2 theodolite:

Here is a Trimble 4800 dual frequency GPS receiver & antenna (combined) on a tripod (there is a market for older dual freek GPS gear):

This is a Trimble 4700 base station, the big dinner plate on the tripod is the antenna and the receiver is in the box. The other equipment is a 25watt transmitter radio:

This is a Dietzgen Transit in its box:

Here is the 4700 antenna on a fixed height tripod:

Great idea Sam but he probably would bid against me if they went as cheap as I would want them to sell for. Hehe

Thanks for that point Darel. I didn't even think of selling hear at first but I will definitely follow your advice. I will only sell once I verify they work, would post a commercial ad. And since you guys helped me, I would give first option here at a price that you would like. 🙂

I have a photo but this site wants a URL and I don't know how to get it uploaded to a hosting site. 🙁

Brian

Thanks J Penry, that helps alot. I will definitely not buy one with scuffs as now I know that would be to cost prohibitive damaage. I would have maybe guessed that but not known for sure but you confirmed it. Thank you sir.

Dave, thanks so much for photos. Here is what the photo shows is up for sale:

(7) total stations (assuming because they look similar to your Leica 1100 photo in shape with little screen with keypad)
(1) reciever
(1) level
(2) transits.

All are in carrying cases but they are resting on their side so I can only see half of it. 🙁 Oh, what is TCRA vs TCA? Is there a generation that is for newer technology total stations that is key to value or not?

Brian

The "R" stands for reflectorless which means it can measure a distance to an object (such as a wall) without the use of a reflector. Just point and shoot.

Generally,
Light Green=Leica (very high quality). The 1100 series is no longer supported but some parts are probably still in stock. The 1200 series (green and white) is the current model. I think lower numbered models aren't motorized and would be worth less.

Mustard=Topcon (acceptable). Too many models to count.

Aquamarine?=Sokkia (acceptable).

Anything like South or Foif (I think) are Chinese knock-offs, stay away.

Yellow=Trimble (acceptable and very popular).

Also lesser brands like Nikon and Pentax are OK but not worth as much as the others but opinions may vary on this.

I personally would not bother with a total station that does not have reflectorless capability. I still use the reflectors for measurements that have to be better accuracy but the reflectorless is pretty much indispensable to me.

Also if you can score some Leica tribrachs, target and prism assemblies you should be in tall grass. Those are the best and they are expensive new.

This is a tribrach (this one is a Leica knock-off):

Here is a typical leica prism & target assembly:

Leica makes a lot of different adapters and other accessories, too many to name.

I think all the total stations are yellow or mustard (hard to tell as I am colorblind) So trimble or topcon I guess. One is red. So no chinese junk. 🙂

Ok, is the "R" always in the model number or easy to tell as I won't know if there is a battery to power on to tell? I will search for reflectorless and tribachs etc, but I don't see any "accesories" in photo but thanks for mentioning them anyways.

Ok, it looks like there are tribachs on the bottoms of many of the total stations already, but no "extra" ones. I don't see any prisms shown. I hope I find a lot of reflectorless models, I sure hope I can figure out if they work so I buy accordingly. I have a lot of experience in general of troubleshooting things before an auction as that is what I do, but each new item creates a short term window to learn quickly or else. Good thing is most others will be in same situation unless they are a surveyor themselves. Hard to say if there will be any there. Sometimes auction word of mouth spreads to appropriate people and sometimes it does not. By the options in the display window will that tell me generation or value range? If so, please give an example. Thanks

Brian

Leica total stations have the name on the box and the instrument:

for example:
TCRA1203 is a 1200 series 3 second motorized reflectorless instrument. I'm not sure what the T, C and A stand for.

My Topcon total station is a GPT-3005LW which is a 3000 series non-motorized 5 second long range reflectorless, wireless (refers to bluetooth) instrument.

Trimble makes a very expensive total station called an S-6. I have no idea why the S or the 6. I think they also have an even more expensive version called a VX.

Most manufacturers make a full line of instruments from manual to fully motorized to fully robotic (one person can operate it remotely). They range widely in value. Also Topcon, Sokkia and Leica have been producing total station instruments since the 1980s so you could see a brand-name but the instrument is 25 years old and not worth very much. I couldn't tell you without seeing what they have.

Yes, it can be a pig and a poke. I try to keep my risk as low as possible so that is what you guys are helping me do. I guess if I get total stations that look good from a leyperson's eye and I buy them, is there people out there that might do testing for a reasonable price for 1-6 of them? Not really sure what their labor rate might be or even who would want to do it or who to trust to do it. Thanks.

Brian

I just seen Upload as an option versus using a URL for photos. I just uploaded the photo. Let me know if you recognize any of the models and if they are desireable or not to you or the general surveying world. thanks.

Brian

From what I see there I would guess construction company, not a surveyor.
Left to right:

Educated guessing from what I see. Others may correct me.
Top shelf:
Electronic theodolite (doesn't measure distances)?, maybe Topcon.
Level, possibly an orange Wild but don't know for sure.

Top middle shelf:
Total Station (I think), possibly Topcon.
Electronic theodolite.
Electronic theodolite.

Bottom middle shelf:
Gray box is likely a laser level.
Electronic theodolite.
Cheap transit.

Bottom shelf:
Electronic theodolite.
Cheap transit.
Electronic theodolite, probably Sokkia.

None of those are very valuable.

The orange level on the top shelf may be the best thing there. The laser level in the gray box could be useful but make sure they have all the parts (a little box which is a receiver which goes on a special rod).