It was the late 70's and I was fifteen years old when my Dad got me a job working on a survey crew in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to keep me out of trouble. (Didn't work). I was the monkey. French surveyors who didn't speak much English using the Wild T-1 with a top mounted EDM. Other than setting it up, they wouldn't let me touch the thing. I did however become proficient at swearing in French. Went on to do every job imaginable before realizing I had way more fun with surveying as a kid than all the other jobs combined. Went back to school in my thirties and got a degree in geomatics and never looked back.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
First surveyed at Paul Smiths College in mid-70's - I think it was a K&E transit, dumpy level, chains and pins. started professionally (so to speak) in 1979, using a T16 with a top-mount Red2 distance meter. There was one T1 for boundary work among 3 crews. seems like forever ago.
> I was five years old and have the photo to prove it.
I think you should scan that thing and post it.
Buff & Buff 1 min. Transit and 100' tape, plumb bobs ( no gammon reals ) 1963.