Early High Quality Level - Likely Railroad History

FROM THE DALE BEEKS COLLECTION

360 Degree Spinner View - with Zoom Option
(Zoom with your mouse scroll wheel or with the magnifying glass in the spinner menu bar. Unzoom to regain control of the 360 degree spinner).

This is a very nice level made by William Ewin.

Ewin was only in business under his own name from 1836 thru 1840.

The optics on the scope are pretty good, noting that the upper quarter of the cross hairs is missing, and you can see the the tangled web thru the scope if you focus it a bit.

A prior owner is possibly identified based on an envelop found inside the instrument box. out an owner of this level based on the partial remains of an owners label paste on top of the box. The letter is dated 1886. The recipient was an E. F. Fillmore in Janesville, Ohio. Mr Fillmore was a rather well known and successful individual. I have no idea why this letter was in this instrument box - but it suggests that Fillmore might have owned the instrument.

Please see my William Ewin Makers Webpage for more info about this instrument maker.