Used in Washington From May thru August 1893, and Then Likely Never Used Again

This aluminum solar compass is simply STRIKING. Pictures do not do it justice. My dad, Bud Uzes, started collection surveying instruments in the 1960s, when I was about 6 years old. So I've been around solar compasses and other great instruments all of my life. This is the first instrument that makes me think "WOW" however. An aluminum solar compass is just an incredibly special and beautiful instrument. A comparable Young & Sons aluminum solar compass sold for $55k in 2007, which seemed like a lot of money at the time. Once I pulled this Gurley aluminum solar compass out of its custom designed box and put the instrument on my dining room table, however, I understood the value proposition. This is an instrument to lust after.

Citing to a 1948 article in Modern Metals magazine, Bedini stated Gurley made 1 aluminum solar compass in 1878, 2 more in 1880, and a few more between 1880 and 1893. There is only one other Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass known to have survived - and it was made at roughly the same time as the one offered here. Unlike the other surviving Gurley Aluminum Solar Compass, the instrument offered here has a known and documented history.

This instrument was purchased new by Washington US Deputy Surveyor Edwin Richardson in 1893, who used the instrument to survey two Washington Townships in the summer of 1893. Richardson describes this unique instrument perfectly in his first set of Field Notes:

"Resurvey commenced May 9th 1893 with a new Aluminum Solar Compass reading on the arcs to seconds. Supplied with a folding sight Telescope with level and vertical circle manufactured by W & L. E. Gurley"

(The second set of Field Notes basically describes the instrument the same way)

The Plat maps for Richardsons two 1893 surveys using the Aluminum Solar Compass are below:

USDS Richardson was an interesting long-time Washington Surveyor. Born in New York, Edwin served briefly in the Spanish War in 1848, was a school teacher in Seattle by 1859, and was elected King County Surveyor in 1860. That year he also received a Contract to survey 28 DLC's from Des Moines to Seattle. He helped clear the land and performed a survey for the new University of Washington site in Seattle in 1861. In 1863 he discovered coal on a survey he was performing, and filed a claim that included one of the future commercial coal fields East of Lake Washington. He was again elected King County Surveyor 1866-69. According to this 1952 BLM article, USDS Richardson also was something of a Johnny Appleseed - Richardson frequently planted trees during his surveys.

Edwin was a member of the Washington Territorial House of Representatives from Klickitat County from 1875-1876, and was Klickitat County Surveyor in 1882. He was admitted to an Old Soldiers Home near Los Angeles in early 1898 for a few months, and nothing is known of him after that.

Edwin was a journeyman GLO Surveyor, surveying about 34 contracts over 33 years, the last in 1891, finishing in 1893. That Contract was the first of his examined by a competent examiner, Francis Yeomans, and he had to redo the work in the field (Yeomans noted poor blazing, insecure posts, no marks on the stones, and many instances of bark scribing). He was examined the second time by Henry Newby and approved in 1894.

Edwin contracted for about 185 townships in his career, mostly on the Eastside. From 1860-63, Edwin surveyed several Contracts between Auburn and Seattle, and then received one in Yakima Valley in 1863. From then until 1866, he surveyed 8 Contracts back on the Westside along the Sound. From that point on, he stayed on the Eastside until his final Contract at Eatonville in 1891.

(The above is taken from a fantastic resource for old GLO surveys in Washington - Olson Engineering)

The Aluminum Solar Compass shows only minor wear, and the custom made box looks almost new. I suspect that this instrument was never used again after Edwin put in back in the box in August 1893.

The Aluminum Gurley Solar Compass offered here has two minor defects. First, the instrument apparently tipped over at some point and broke the base of the telescope attachment. The base was fixed by an expert, however, likely a Gurley factory job. You can see a picture here. Second, there is a little pin inside the spindle that helps clamp the top plate so the bottom plate can spin without the top plate spinning at the same time. The pin apparently froze into place over time, and was then sheared off when somebody forced the bottom plate to spin separately from the top. A skilled craftsman could take out the old pin and install a new pic, and the instrument would function as intended. The sheared pin does not impact the beauty of the instrument in any way.\

When you open up the inside of a Gurley Solar Compass you often see a date and the name or initials of who made the instrument. Interestingly, the inside of this instrument features various scratchings and initials. I haven't been able to figure out the scratchings or the initials. You can see a pic of the inside of the instrument below.

This is a very special instrument, and would be an important and worthy addition to either a broad collection of scientific instruments or a collection focused solely on surveying instruments. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Black Friday Sale Update

The last time I took the SC out for pictures (to make the 360 degree views), one of the little brass pins supporting the aluminum telescopic standard must have broken off when I disassembled the SC. I don’t recall anything unusual when I disassembled the SC, but the pin is definitely broken. The telescopic vane can still be completely secured by the thumbscrew, so there is no change to the appearance of the instrument. I also suspect the tiny brass pin can be replaced at a minor cost. Attached are two pics showing the sheared brass pin. Just wanted you to know that before making your decision.

This aluminum solar compass has an incredible amount of eye appeal. I have a number of really neat SC’s in inventory, but they don’t come close to grabbing the eye like this Gurley SC. It really is just amazing.