A Wonderful Twisted Frame Transit with a Solar Attachment - in Great Condition with a Gradienter Accessory as well.

This truly incredible surveying instrument has so many interesting and special features it is difficult to know where to begin the description. First, it is an extremely rare K&E Paoli Patent Twist-Frame Extra Fine Light Mountain Transit – and comes with a K&E factory Saegmuller-type solar attachment. As a Light Mountain Transit, this is a premium instrument - an extremely high quality instrument made to be small and light. The solar unit adds the ability to directly determine the instrument’s latitude, apparent solar time, and direction of true north. Both the twist and solar features just by themselves transform a conventional transit into one that is highly collectible and having premium value. Here you have both features combined in a single instrument. There is also a gradienter screw to the vertical clamp for measuring distances by micrometer readings. Plus, this obviously lightly used instrument is in VERY nice condition. The end result is a premier American surveying instrument that is both extremely rare and highly desirable.

I sold an extremely nice K&E Expedition Solar Transit in 2003 or so, and it commanded a significant premium over other solar transits. The K&E Light Mountain solar transit offered here is a VERY desirable and rare instrument, and was a more usable instrument than the extremely small (tiny) Expedition Solar Transit.

The Paoli Patent twist frame is itself particular to Keuffel & Esser, formerly one of the country’s outstanding manufacturers of surveying instruments. The company started in 1867 and continued in business for over a century. Following is a quoted statement from the Smithsonian Museum website regarding K&E transits of this period:

“K&E introduced a new line of surveying instruments in the early 1890s, describing them as "a thorough departure from all the styles of similar instruments previously made," and noting that many of their improvements were "the product of the genius of our Mr. John Paoli." John Paoli was an Italian who lived in Hoboken, an who obtained several patents for such things as the twisted standards of a transit, the compass box, the leveling screws, and a telescope with stadia wires and cross hairs.”

Paoli himself describes the construction of the twisted standards in the following statement: “I curve the standards which support the bearings of the telescope and complete the form by twisting. The form of the standard affords a wide base with both feet standing on the top plate close to the compass-ring, which may be a thick portion of said plate.” He then adds “I have in my experiments produced these standards by casting and afterward twisting the legs to the required form. This mode of manufacture changes the arrangement of the particles and imparts firmness and rigidity to the standards.”

Rather than list all the Model 5077 and Sagemuller attachment specs here, I will direct you attention to two pics below that I scanned from my 1909 K&E Catalogue. This K&E Model 5077 bears a 13771 serial number, which means that is was likely built in 1907. The Mahogany Case, which also bears the same serial number, is in excellent condition as you can see from the photos below. Importantly, the case is designed for the solar attachment.

Even lightly used surveying instruments sometimes have blemishes, and this instrument is no exception. First, this instrument came with an attached magnifying glass as an extra. The attachment is present but the magnifying glass is gone. I suspect this is something that you could add without much trouble or cost. I also see a bent brass screw - the screw that locks the Sagemuller attachment's vertical movement in place. The screw still functions properly however.

Rather than list all the Model 5077 and Sagemuller attachment specs here, I will direct you attention to two pics below that I scanned from my 1909 K&E Catalogue. This K&E Model 5077 bears a 13771 serial number, which means that is was likely built in 1907. The Mahogany Case, which also bears the same serial number, is in excellent condition as you can see from the photos below. Importantly, the case is designed for the solar attachment.

This is truly an outstanding and rare instrument. Please email me if you are interested in it.

Price: SOLD
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