I have been wanting one for many years, just as a display item, and for tinkering around with.
The recent posts about solar shots and polaris shots reignited the desire to pick one up. I was just browsing ebay over the weekend, killing some time, and found a Dietzgen Model A theodolite up for auction. I won the auction this morning for a great price.
I am really excited about tinkering around with this and doing some research and doing some old school angle observations. This will be cool when I do my career day presentations,and when I help teach the Boy Scout Surveying Merit Badge.
🙂
:good:
If this is the EBay Listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-DIETZGEN-TRANSIT-THEODOLITE-MODEL-CASE-w-accessories-/350575999468
Then the instrument was manufactured by Topcon in Japan or as it was known then, Tokyo Optical Corporation.
See picture here in the on-line Topcon Museum. Scroll down a bit.
http://www.topcon.co.jp/en/positioning/museum/theo.html
Before Topcon established their own U.S. sales subsidiary in the late 1970's, Dietzgen distributed the instruments much like Lietz distributed Sokkisha.
I think quite a few were sold as it was less expensive than an U.S. made instrument, optical plummet was standard and the design was more compact.
The first survey company I worked for in South Africa, back in the early 90's, we used the Wild T-2 with the EDM attached. I used to get good closures with that theodolite especially over long traverses. It was a solid instrument. I wouldn't mind getting one of those.
That is not the listing, but it is the same model instrument.
Thank you for the information. I am pumped about this instrument. I am really looking forward to messing around with it.
Do you happen to know if it takes the normal 5/8" x 11 thread on modern tripods?
Thanks
A standard 5/8 x 11 Tripod should work.
Topcon and Sokkisha did make instruments that required a tripod head with a larger diameter fastening screw. However, most were transits with glass circles and verniers with permanently attached magnifiers. The reason for the larger screw was the alidade portion of the instrument could be shifted in the leveling base to center the instrument. Level the instrument approximately centered over the reference then you could move it a bit. Sokkisha/Lietz was model 10B and a few of the 10C Transits. I think the Dietzgen model was 6140, but made by Topcon. This style of instrument was sold in Japan.
Probably less popular here because the larger diameter fastening screw wouldn't work with automatic levels so you've got worry about whether you've grabbed the right tripod.
Threaded adapters were and may still be available to adapt these instruments to a 5/8 x 11 Tripod. Outside male thread matches the thread and diameter in the instrument base plate. Internal female thread is 5/8 x 11. Maybe not available from manufacturers but find an instrument technician who has been around a while and he/she will likely know about it. Easy enough for a competent machinist to make from standard round aluminum or brass stock.