Known Owner - W. B. Swank (ME) - California Mine Operator

360 Degree Spinner View

This is a neat old Gurley Surveyors Transit.

As shown on one of the pics below, the box has a metal strip that identifies the owner. "W.B. Swank ME" I believe the ME stands for Mining (or Mineral) Engineer. With a bit of research, I found a W. B. Swank who owned one or more mines in Calaveras County, California. I attached a few of the things I found about W. B. Swank below.

This Gurley Surveyor's Compass has a nice patina and would look great on display. The transit comes with everything seen in the pics, but does not include a tripod. To really appreciate this instrument, please take a look at the 360 Degree Spinner for this instrument.

Based on the design features of this instrument, I believe the transit was made between 1890 and 1893, which is why I call it a circa 1891 transit. I used Brian Aregood's book on dating Gurley transits to date the instrument. Great book.

The optics on the transit are ok, although there is only one fact vertical crosshair left. The compass box also doesn't turn for variation with the thumbscrew - it appears frozen in place. So it needs some TLC and some lube. The thumbscrew that turns the compass box for variation doesn't engage with the threads on the compass box. I think the screw just might be extended beyond the threads a bit, so the problem can be fixed when the frozen compass box is tended to.

360 Degree Spinner View