Other instruments

Box sextant by W F Stanley in oxidised brass with silver scale and vernier, probably early 20th century, in excellent working order

4” diameter prismatic surveying compass signed on the lid (not shown) F B & S (1932) Ltd with a broad arrow and B 2163. Aluminium compass ring divided to 30 minutes. Case stamped GBO over 1 in a circle. There is a tripod socket under the base. Probably mid-20th century. Possibly made by Francis Barker & Son (1932) Ltd., as the lid is aluminium and the rest is brass so the lid may have been changed.

2.5” diameter compass card, Hutchinson’s improved prismatic compass probably dating from the 19th century. Another surveying compass. These were made by a number of makers from about 1860 to the mid-20th century.

A combined Hutchinson’s Improved prismatic compass and Watkin’s patent clinometer.

The prismatic compass is similar to the one above but is signed around the centre of the compass card J Hicks 8, 9 & 10 Hatton Garden London. Underneath is the clinometer signed J Hicks maker 8 Hatton Garden London. It is also marked Watkin’s Clinometer patent 217 and No. 7160. The patent was granted in 1884. This example probably dates from the end of the 19th century. This type of clinometer has an internal pendulum and scale which rotate under gravity. When a feature is sighted through the eye hole in the side of the case the angle of inclination or depression can be seen alongside in the reflection from a mirror.

The leather sling case is well worn and missing the sides of the cover, two loops, and the shoulder strap.

Lawrence & Mayo combined prismatic compass and clinometer dating from ca. 1890. Patent No. 1926. Serial No. 4981. The compass is of the Hutchinson’s type. W F Stanley calls this Barker’s Combined Prismatic Compass and Clinometer. When used as a clinometer the weighted clinometer card is released by pulling the knob at the top. Held vertically it is sighted in the same way as when used as a compass and the clinometer card read through the prism, which can be raised to suit. It can also be used to measure the slope of a surface by direct reading through the lower glass. There is a tripod or staff screw under the base plate for when it is used as a compass.

Service pattern clinometer signed Aston & Mander Ld London 2108 with leather sling case stamped ↑ Short & Mason 1903 1745, made in 1903. The mechanism is the same as that of the Watkin’s patent clinometer.

Siemens Bros & Co, London signed service pattern clinometer no. 316, marked with the broad arrow, IV, and dated 1898. Engraved on the back A.D.S. Arbuthnot. Missing the glass from the circular window.

India pattern clinometer made by UIC for the British Government (probably the War Department). It was used to measure the elevation or declination of buildings and topographical features, mounted on a plane table and levelled using the screw behind the back sight. The aperture in the foresight can be raised or lowered with the thumb wheel until the cross wire coincides with the top of the feature being measured. There are a degree scale (to the left) and a tangent scale (to the right) on the front sight which enable the height to be calculated or found from tables if the horizontal distance is known.

This one probably dates from the 1950s. The case is marked MkVI F.Ltd and numbered 115 under the broad arrow. The instrument is stamped with the UIC trade mark, B 8300 (probably a catalogue number) and the broad arrow. This type of clinometer was originally designed for the survey of India in the 19th century, hence its name.

12” boxwood and brass folding alidade by J H Steward Ltd, 457 Strand, London. Originally the property of Bedford College, London, Geographical Department, the stamp of which is impressed in both the alidade and its leather case.

The edge scales are yards 6” to the mile and 2” to the mile.

It probably dates from the first quarter of the 20th century.

Six inch Government Pattern Trough Compass by Cooke, Troughton & Simms for use on a plane table. Probably dates from the second quarter of the twentieth century.

Elliott Bros, London Abney level no 1796, registered no 5205, It has a Morocco covered card case. The design, by Capt. Abney, was registered in 1884 and this level is an early example , probably dating from the end of the 19th century. Behind the top bar is a level tube which is rotated by the milled hand wheel. In use the object of which the height is to be determined is sighted through the instrument and the bubble tube is rotated until the bubble, viewed in a mirror in the sighting tube, is brought to the same position as the top of the sighted object.

This 19th century Abney level is unsigned. It has a magnifier and the angle scales are divided to + 90 degrees whilst the Elliott one is only divided to + 60 degrees.. Unlike my other Abneys the mirror is in its early position across the top half of the tube rather than at one side. The morocco covered, silk & velvet lined case is unusual for an instrument intended to be used in the field.

Mk 5 Abney level by H H S, B837 dating from 1944. It has a leather case stamped with the broad arrow and PIC 1944 Mk V 33. It has an extending sighting tube. The outer knurled sector is used for coarse adjustment and the inner knurled wheel for fine adjustment. It is missing its magnifier for reading the vernier. The scales are similar to those of the Mk IV above.

Clinometer Field Mark III ↑ by J Pitkin & Co No 237 dated 1905. These were used by the military for measuring/setting the elevation of gun barrels prior to the introduction of specialist sight clinometers. The arc is graduated in degrees and the level moves on a finely curved cross member giving a reading to one minute of arc. The end of the cross member is sprung so that it can be disengaged from the rack inside the arc for moving. In America these are known as gunner’s quadrants. Prior to the use of the field clinometer a Watkin Clinometer was used for measuring/setting the quadrant elevation.

Two unsigned pocket telescopes described below

Three draw telescope with leather covered outer tube, pull-off objective cover and sliding eyepiece cover. Length overall 15.3”, closed 5.6”; objective diameter 0.9”. Cloth case.

Three draw telescope with mahogany veneer covered outer tube, objective lens hood, pull-off objective cover and sliding eyepiece cover. Length overall 18.6”, closed 6.1”; objective diameter 1.1”.. English, probably ca.1900.

Unsigned three draw telescope (missing cover to outer tube and objective lens cover). Sliding eyepiece cover. Length overall 16.9”, closed 6.2”; objective diameter 1.2”. Battered but still working.

“Quick Focus Rifleman” telescope by J H Steward Ltd of London. A two draw telescope shown partially open and closed, signed on the inner draw. Length overall 23¼”, closed 11½“. Objective diameter 1.25”. Missing lens hood but in good working order.

Broadhurst Clarkson & Co Ltd, 63 Farringdon Road, London EC four draw telescope, 33” long overall (36” with hood extended). Objective diameter 2 3/8”. Four powers marked on eyepiece draw: 25, 30, 35 & 40 times magnification. Leather missing from outer tube which is quite battered. Bright and very powerful scope. Probably ca.1900.

The Shore Instrument & Mfg Co, Jamaica, NY, USA “Durometer” Type A hardness tester for rubber, serial no 10031 with rubber support and blue velvet lined case.

Pine box of microscope slides with twelve trays, each of six slides (72 slides total). Mostly professionally prepared Histology slides (of plant sections). Four trays by Abraham Flatters, 16 & 18 Church Road, Longsight, Manchester; four trays by A J Galloway, Salisbury. Odd slides by Richard Suter, 10 Highweek Road, Tottenham; J H Steward, 406 Strand, London.

Flatters was born in 1848. He was making microscope slides at 16 Church Road from 1895 to 1901, when he went into partnership with Charles Garnett.

A hand held polarimeter, the two optical tubes each have a lens at each end and a Nicol prism in between. Neither rotates so it was possibly a dichroiscope for examining gem stones or crystals, which would have been held in wax on the end of a stick and rotated between the two optical tubes.

L S Starrett, Atholl, Mass., USA speed indicator, patented April 19th 1897. Used for measuring the speed of rotation of shafts in machinery, such as lathes. Unlike the instrument above, which has a built in stop watch, this had to be used in conjunction with a separate stop watch. Early 20th century.

Elliott Bros speed indicator no. 23181. Depending on where the adapter is attached it has three speed ranges: 100-500; 400-2000; 800-4000 rpm.

Pullin Optics rangefinder and leather case. The rangefinder has a large dial in the centre which is rotated to bring the two images into coincidence, when viewed through the eyepiece, which is in the centre on the opposite side to the dial. The range (from 1½ ft to infinity) can then be read from the dial. Length overall 3.4”, baseline 2.4”. Originally the property of a civil engineer, it is not clear whether he used this for his work or as a photographic rangefinder. Serial number 471126.

A ‘Tabor’ steam engine indicator made by The Ashcroft Manufacturing Co., Bridgeport, Ct, USA serial no. 5686. Patented Dec. 10th 1878 and Nov. 24th 1885. It has a comprehensive set of accessories including five piston springs (20, 24, 30, 40, 60), a spare drum spring, cord for attaching to the engine crosshead (via a reducing lever), oil bottle, two screwdrivers and four scales by Dobbie McInnes. The latter are contained within a tray that fits in the box. It would have been supplied with two engine cocks but these would have been fitted to the cylinder of the engine and remained there to allow the indicator to be removed when not required. There would also have been a pack of 100 cards to go on the drum but these would have been used, and a screwdriver which is missing. It is also missing the 300 page book that would have been supplied with it. However these are items that one would expect to have been used or misplaced in its life and it is in excellent condition, being about 100 years old. From the diagram produced the mean effective pressure in the cylinder could be found and the indicated horsepower calculated.
IHP = Pm.L.A.N/33000 where Pm = mean effective pressure, L= piston stroke, A=piston area, N=engine rpm. This would be measured for each cylinder, the values added together being the engine IHP. If the cylinders were double acting (admitting steam to both sides of the piston) then the sum would need to be multiplied by 2 to give the IHP unless each end of the cylinder was measured separately.

A Dobbie-McInnes No. 1, Large Size, engine indicator for engine speeds up to 250 rpm. It is housed in a mahogany box with six further springs, a spare drum spring and a spanner. Unlike the indicator above which has the pressure resisting spring located within the cylinder, this indicator is of the external spring type and the spring can be clearly seen between the piston and the straight line mechanism for the pen. As above the instruction book and charts are missing. It dates from the early twentieth century. Serial no. D 1A 16152.

E R Watts & Son Standard 10” dumpy level No. 20163 dating from ca.1939, agents J Halden & Co, Manchester & London. The level is mounted on a tribrach, in the base of which is a small circular spirit level for rough adjustment. The main (very sensitive) level is sighted through the mirror and there is also a cross level. The telescope is of the internal focusing type, the eyepiece separately focusing on the diaphragm. There is a clamp and slow motion (the clamp screw knob had sheared off and I have repaired it since the photos were taken). It has a fitted mahogany case.

A H Hall & Bros 10” precision tilting level no 53649 supplied by Hall Harding & Co, Westminster, London. The level is mounted on a tribrach above which there is an azimuth scale. It is fitted with a clamp and slow motion although the clamp screw was missing and a replacement has now been made. One turn of micrometer screw for tilting the level is equivalent to a 1/100 slope and the barrel is graduated to 1/5000. The telescope is of the internal focusing type, the eyepiece separately focusing on the diaphragm. There is a circular bubble level for setting up as well as the sensitive level that is sighted through the mirror. Using the tilting function to take two readings on the stave, the distance can be calculated.

Eleven inch drainage level, ca. 1790-1820. It is unsigned and it appears that a trade label has at some time been lost from inside the lid - possibly when it was some time later for sale second-hand for £3.10s. The case is mahogany and has hand dovetail joints. The No. 163 in the lid may well be the original maker's number.

The two screws in the lower limb were probably for the attachment of a compass. It has a rather unsightly solder repair where the original fixing screw{s} has been lost or the thread damaged that I shall try and clean up in due course.
However the level tube is still intact, the eyepiece and objective are in good condition and focus correctly and the cross hairs are still in position although the horizontal one is displaced at one end. The link hinges are a little sloppy
from 200 years wear.

Clinometer rule signed Herbert & Co Bombay. It has bubble levels in both arms and a magnetic compass as well as fold out sights. On the compass side there is a table of lengths in inches for a one inch rise against degrees. On the reverse is a table of rise in inches per yard against degrees, and a scale of inches x tenths. On the bottom edge is a scale of inches x eighths. The hinge arc is graduated in degrees and there is an adjacent gradient scale. The rule is made of boxwood and brass and has a leather case. Overall length folded = 6 in.

Mk IX dry card prismatic compass (Verner’s pattern) signed J W Handley Melb. Australia 1941. No. 26249. Stamped with the broad arrow flanked by DD for the Australian Defence Department, and also with 132 under another broad arrow. The card is mother of pearl, the case is brass and it has luminous radium compound markings (radio active!). The large screw locks the rotating bezel. The card is clamped when the lid is closed. There is a small button to damp card rotation for reading. The prism can be moved up and down to focus

Mk III liquid filled prismatic compass signed ‘ckc/C S4375 Mk III’ made by the Canadian Kodak Co under license from Francis Barker (1932) Ltd. World War II vintage. It has possibly been reconditioned and repainted professionally at some time. Mother of pearl compass card. Luminous radium paint markings (orange colour). In excellent working order.

Brunton Pocket Transit (combined compass and clinometer) by E R Watts & Son. The compass and clinometer are in good working order but the aluminium case has lost much of its paint and the lid is missing the mirror with its sight line, I hope to restore it in due course.

Small mahogany cased compass, 31 mm diameter, dating from ca. 1900

Cotton type Rangefinder Mk II no 1186 by E R Watts & Son. This instrument was used to measure the distance of an object from the observer. A 4" long linear concave lens (in cross section front and rear of the glass are parallel) is fixed to the base. A prism is mounted on a carriage with an index mark that slides back and forth along the axis of the instrument. When at infinity the slanted side of the prism is parallel to the corresponding part of the concave lens and cancels out any light breaking. A distance to an object can be measured when the height (or width) of the object is known. The carriage is slid until both ends of the object coincide, similar to the use of a stadimeter or sextant. Three reversible brass inserts calibrated on both sides in distance in yards, corresponding to various base heights, (20 and 25 feet, 30 and 35 feet and 40 and 50 feet), are fitted along the axis of the instrument. When the scale for the appropriate base height is selected and inserted, the carriage can be slid for coincidence and the distance read at the index mark on the sliding carriage. It is still in it's original mahogany box. Used by a master mariner in WWI.

Distance finder by SLOM, Paris. Viewing through the edge of the black circular part with the name on a ground glass screen can be seen. When viewed close up there are three scales: on the left a % scale reads from -400 to 400; in the centre a scale reads from infinity to 10m downwards with a base of 1.7m (height of man in French alongside) and from infinity to 7m upwards with a base of 2m (placed at a height of 2m in French alongside); on the right a scale reads to 25 grads in each direction from a centre zero. When viewed at arms length, suspended from the thumb loop at the top, the centre scale is magnified and the distance to an object can be read from the centre scale. It appears that it can also be used as a clinometer. I would like to know more about this instrument and its maker.

De Lisle reflecting clinometer. In use it is held at arms length using the thumb loop so that it can pivot freely. The weight on the swinging arm is moved to the end of the arm and the
arm is unclamped. The mirror has to be rotated through a right angle for use, in one direction for looking up slope and in the other for down slope. The arm will show the amount of inclination when the reflection of the centre of the pupil of
the eye coincides with the object being observed. It was made by Palmer for the British government and has a leather sling case marked F Ltd with the broad arrow.

It can be used as both a clinometer and as a reflecting level, in which case the arm is clamped horizontal.

The box sextant was something I had wanted for a long time and I was fortunate to find the Stanley one at a local auction. The first two telescopes were an impulse buy, cheaply, at the same auction. I was given the Durometer by a friend. The microscope slides came with my first microscope (the late 19th century drum type field one), and the polarimeter was purchased, not knowing what it was, for a tenner. More recently I became interested in surveying and surveying instruments.

Hasler SA, Berne, Switzerland workshop tachometer for measuring the speed of rotation of lathe shafts, etc. and also for checking cutting speed. Serial No 91936. Mid 20th century. Complete with case, accessories, instruction leaflet and table of cutting speeds. Sold by “SIC” (Swiss Instruments & Components Ltd., 54 Cheam Common Road, Worcester Park, Surrey).

RSA Mk IV Abney level B5098. A service pattern Abney level made for the British military. The vernier is divided to 10 minutes and it is adjusted by the thumb wheel at the top. It has a two draw eyepiece, which extends the instrument to 7 inches overall length The mirror is silver. It has degree and gradient scales.

Abney level made by W F Stanley, in the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. It has a leather sling case.

W F Stanley apomecometer dating from ca. 1900. It has a leather case.

E R Watts & Son Ltd, London double optical square no. 33179. Mid- twentieth century, this is the prismatic type, in this case with two prisms, one above the other, to sight at 90 degrees left and right simultaneously.

Earlier optical squares were constructed like the apomecometer above but with the mirrors at an angle of 45 degrees to each other rather than 22.5 degrees.. There was also a double version of the mirror type.

It has a black, cloth covered, card case.

Used to ensure offsets were measured at right angles when chaining.

The surveyor’s cross was another instrument used for laying off offsets at right angles. In this case sightings are taken through the narrow slits and via the fine line opposite. This particular instrument has a compass in the top ( for which there is a brass cover, not shown) and is octagonal in section suggesting that it was made in France (English ones were more likely to be round and of larger cross section). It has a socket underneath for mounting on a staff. It has a mahogany box.

Compass Magnetic Marching Mark 1, B9857, made by the Gramophone Company, London, dating from WWII. The case is Bakelite.

This clinometer is signed Short & Mason London and probably dates from about 1900. The arc is similar to that on an Abney level but somewhat larger. The two screw holes in the base suggest it was meant to be screwed to another piece of equipment. It has a fitted mahogany box.

Hilger & Watts vernier theodolite type ST2, serial number 190802 dating. I think, from the 1960s. The fitted mahogany box still contains the plummet, brush, three spanners, and a spare diaphragm. The olive green enamel is unmarked but there is some tarnishing of the silver scales and verniers, and two of the white plastic reflectors for throwing light onto the verniers were broken, which I have since replaced. The upper horizontal plate motion is too stiff but otherwise it appears to be in excellent working order.

12” dumpy level signed J B Dancer Optician Manchester. John Benjamin Dancer (1812-1887) was working from 1835 until 1878 and it is likely that this level dates from near the end of that period. It has a trade label for J Halden in the lid of the box who may just possibly have sold it new but more likely sold it secondhand or repaired it at some point as Joseph Halden did not start a business on his own account until 1880 after a short (1878-1880) partnership with Alexander George Thornton. The level is mainly oxidised brass or bronze and is in good working order. Typical of levels of this period the parallel plates with their four levelling screws can be detached from the rest of the instrument. The telescope has rack & pinion focusing and an extendable ray shade.

Brooks, Ludgate St, London clinometer/slope level dating from 1849-59. It can be used to find the angle of slope of a surface, such as a road, and can also be used, if mounted on a horizontal surface such as a plane table, as a sighting clinometer to measure the angle of elevation to a feature and hence determine its height relative to the sighting station.

Plane table and stand. The plane table measures 24” x 18” and is to the Royal Engineer’s pattern. The underside shows the aluminium corners, battens and race. The carrying bag is canvas with leather corners. Mid-20th century.

A W F Stanley eight-inch semicircumferentor made of brass and black-lacquered brass. It is also equipped with a level tube that can be screwed under the base beam as shown in the second picture. With this fitted and the arc held in the vertical plane rather than horizontal it can be used as a clinometer. The semi-circle is graduated to half a degree and the vernier reads to one minute of arc. For land surveying it is a simple alternative to a theodolite, though less accurate, for small scale surveys. The shorter alidade can be rotated relative to the larger, fixed alidade for measuring angles between objects and the baseline.