This item is from my
late father's estate. During the housing boom of
the late 1940s, he started a small surveying firm,
in partnership with a man who had been one of the
principle engineers on the Boulder Dam project.
This little Gurley transit was his "pride &
joy". I don't know where he acquired it (I was
about 9 at the time) but I believe it was made in
1909, since the number "9588" appears just above
the "S" on the compass face. (I'm told this
indicates it was the 588th transit made by Gurley
in 1909.) To my knowledge, it has not been used in
at least 50 years, but was stored in his closet
until he died.
Complete with its tripod and leather covered
wooden case. Transit seems to be in working order
with compass, all bubble levels, optics (including
crosshairs), verniers (2 on horizontal table), all
operable and smooth. There is a worn spot in the
black finish of the scope just in front of the
eyepiece, but no other damage that I can see. I
haven't attempted to clean it. The tube measures
7" long, the horizontal table 4.5" in diameter,
and compass needle about 2.75" long.
The fitted case appears to be of walnut or
mahogony, covered with leather. It is somewhat
fragile, with the stitching of leather corner
seams mostly worn away. It has been reinforced
with a light metal corner strip around the bottom,
and the leather carrying strap is obviously a
replacement. Fitted wooden fixtures inside hold a
screwdriver, 2 drift punches, a tiny brass
"wrench", and a lens shade that fits on when the
lens cap is removed. There are also fixtures to
secure a plumb bob and 1.25" round object
(magnifying glass?) but these are now missing. The
top of the box has a brass label marked "GURLEY
Engineering Instruments, Troy, N.Y., U.S.A."
The tripod seems to be of maple, with brass
& steel fittings, and has a brass-lined wood
cap to protect the threaded top. The legs adjust
from 42" up to about 58" long.
Very low reserve. Buyer to pay actual shipping
costs.
TERMS: U.S. Bidders ONLY. Payment is expected
within 10 days of auction close, and may be by
check, money order, or PAYPAL. Shipments may be
delayed up to 10 days for Personal Checks to
clear. Please e-mail questions to
ladav@earthlink.net and I'll do my best to answer
them. Thanks for viewing this item!
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