Queen & Co. Telescopic Solar Transit

This is one of the favorite instruments used by government and private surveyors in the mountainous western states. It is also one of the most highly prized and collected instruments by those interested in early government cadastral surveys. Furthermore, it was made by a leading manufacturer of the time. The transit is Queen & Co. Light Mountain model equipped with Queen's version of a Saegmuller telescopic solar attachment. The solar mechanism functions to determine the true north-south direction without resort to the often unreliable and less accurate compass needle.

The firm name of Queen & Co. was used between 1896 and 1912. This transit was used in Idaho beginning in about 1905-1910 by a former County Surveyor and U.S. Deputy Surveyor in that state who retired in 1930. He also worked as an architect, builder and engineer. A short biographical sketch and a photographic print of him using the transit will be provided to the purchaser.

The transit has a 5-inch diameter horizontal circle divided to half degrees and reading to one minute. There is a 4-inch diameter vertical circle also divided to half degrees and reading to one minute. The telescope is 9 inches long equipped with standard stadia wires. The instrument is also equipped with a 4-inch long magnetic needle that can be adjusted for declination with a vernier located inside the compass box. There is engraved inside the compass box Queen & Co., Phila., 7871. Both of the two plate levels and the telescope level have normal fluid and are in working condition. The transit exterior shows a noticeable loss of original finish, leaving a combination of early original bronze coloring mixed with brass having a medium patina. The most noticeable finish loss is the chipping away of black paint from the cover for the vertical circle. Some simple paint restoration on this single part would seemingly enhance the visual properties of the entire instrument. The glass covers for the two horizontal scale windows are present as are both white sunlight reflectors. The glass covers for the two vertical scale windows are missing. The spindles are free but very stiff owing to dried lubrication. The accessories include a telescope sunshade, screwdriver, adjusting pin, and lens cap.

The Queen solar attachment has a 5-inch telescope with a right-angle prism eyepiece. The level on the telescope has normal fluid. There are supposed to be two finder sights for rough pointing of the attachment but one is missing. Also, the brass caps to the telescope level show plier marks from an early repair, and the clamp screw for horizontal motion was replaced with a lever-type clamp.

This instrument was used in making cadastral surveys for the government as well as numerous private and county surveys. It has a lot of history and judging from the appearance, was the preferred instrument of this particular surveyor.

But that's not all. One further accessory really sets this rare instrument apart from all others. This transit is complete with not only the original mahogany case, but also with the original tripod which has its own leather carrying case, complete with an original set of 10 unmatched chaining pins and a 10 oz. plumb in soft leather case. The leather tripod case, now pretty stiff, is probably a custom-made accessory since a contemporary Queen & Co. catalog doesn't list such an item. No other leather tripod cases with chaining pin compartments have been encountered in our experience. The leather-worker also reinforced the painted transit case with additional straps and a handle. The tripod itself shows wear but still provides a sturdy support.

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Search words: survey, surveyor, surveying, transit, theodolite, level, plumb, alidade, drafting, compass, chain, engineer, cadastral.