I bought this Wade 5" Transit on craigslist for $100. I am having a hard time finding info about it online. Does anybody have any info or references about Wade instruments? It seems this company no longer exists. See photos. It works great and is in great condition and i think it was worth the money. Thoughts?
Joe Colletti
Rochester, NY
I was forced to use one that looked exactly like that in the late 1970s after the other Iman dropped our T16. He was demoted to brush ape for awhile.
A decent transit. Note that half of the specification are in metric units.
It was housed in a black metal bullet case like a Wild and I remember it was lighter than a K&E or a Dietzen, probably because of the many aluminum parts.
Enjoyed the focus knob being on the side instead of on top of the scope.
[sarcasm]There is something called Krylon Fusion paint that will fix that tripod[/sarcasm]
Joe-
I suspect that the "Wade Instrument" was created as a Norman Wade Company instrument built by another company expert in instruments.
The Norman Wade sales organization as it was does not exist any longer.
There is a vestige in Atlantic Canada.
Its original 'partners' broke up the company unfortunately.
There are still many sales reps in the industry who learned how to look after their clients by 'just dropping in' principally from Tom Marshall a partner/shareholder at NW.
These are the ones who we still deal with as they can help.
Those who send a flurry of E-mails and associated 'stuff', not often.
I believe this article is a good example of Tommy.
http://www.profsurv.com/magazine/article.aspx?i=356
A Google search for Norman Wade will reveal more.
Cheers,
Derek
Your instrument bears a strong resemblance to a T.H.S. (forerunner to Sokkia, I think) transit we have here. Several of the dimensions match. Our objective ferrule is brass, and the level units are aluminum, and there are some other small differences, but on the whole the similarity is striking.
Cheers,
Henry
Joe-
I forwarded your message to Gerry Bellanger in Ottawa and he replied:
Hi Derek,
Norman Wade Co. did not manufacture any surveying instruments. I believe those 5” transits were made at the time by a Japanese co. called Zuhio, but I may be wrong as they subbed out to many Asian manufacturers.
They can still be repaired by a good repair shop.
Gerry