This is a BEAUTIFUL LaMotte Theodolite. The engraving is fantastic.

Dating this instrument is an educated guess. I found two reference points, An old French Publication indicates that LaMotte likely made instruments in Versailles at the end of the 17th Century (late 1600s). A 1979 French auction site suggested that a LaMotte made a sector in Versailles in the late 18th Century (late 1700s). So where does that put this beautiful Theodolite?

I've looked at a good number of Theodolite pics over the last 6 months while researching ancient surveying instruments. To my eye, this LaMotte was made around 1700. Everything about this theodolite looks circa 1700 to me. The key indicators:

1. The magnetic compass ring is not divided. I don't recall seeing a Theodolite after 1750 that did not have a divided ring.

2. The Theodolite doesn't have a vernier or transversals - nothing that makes it easy to read minutes rather than single degrees. Not many Theodolites made after 1750 lacked a vernier/transversal.

3. The sight vanes have thin brass dividers rather than using horsehair or something like that. Not many instruments made after 1700 had brass dividers, and very few after 1750. (My 1740 Cadot Theodolite has brass dividers but I don't recall seeing many instruments made after that with the brass dividers).

4. The pointers at the ends of the Alidade are much more characteristic of Circa 1700 that late 1700s.

The LaMotte Theodolite is a beautiful instrument made by a skilled artisan. Everything about this Theodolite fits a Circa 1700 time frame from a looks and performance perspective. Plus, why would a highly skilled artisan make a wonderful but woefully out of date (by 50 to 75 years) Theodolite in the late 1700s? So I'm going with Circa 1700 on this one, but that's only my educated guess.

Please take a look at my 360 Degree View of the LaMotte Theodolite (immediately below). You can Zoom in on any angle, so you can really see just how special this Theodolite is.

Finally, if you are interested in learning more about Theodolites made from 1500 to 1800, please see my Theodolites (1500 to 1800) Webpage. The LaMotte is what I call a Second Generation Theodolite, so go directly to that page if you want to learn more about Theodolites made at roughly the same time as the LaMotte Theodolite.