Levels – Vintage Surveying

The “Vintage Levels” sub-menu shows vintage surveying instruments that accurately (for their time) measured differences in height using a telescope that rotates only around a vertical axis, in conjunction with 1 or more very sensitive ‘’spirit level bubbles’’ to define a consistently level reference line. The vast majority of the various types of “Vintage Levels” were composed almost entirely of brass & while simpler to construct than “Transits & Theodolites”, still required the talents of highly skilled craftsmen to make. ……. This, website has only been recently launched, so I’m just in the very early stages of populating the site with vintage items from my collection & the “Vintage Levels” shown & described below are just a start …………. There’s lots more to be added regularly, so return often to catch the latest updates. …………. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments or suggestions related to any of my website’s content.

………. Just “left-click” on any image to expand it for better viewing & then “left-click” on the arrows at the right or left side of the expanded image to scroll (in order) down or up (respectively) through the list of images:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

**Hearn & Potter** **1854 Ad** – Toronto – (open source copy) – **Note:** *Hearn & Potter partnership started in 1853 & dissolved sometime in 1857, making any signed instruments by them likely to be ‘‘**Exceptionally Rare**”.*

**Hearn & Potter 1857 Ad** – Toronto – (open source copy) – **Note:** *Hearn & Potter partnership started in 1853 & dissolved sometime in 1857, making any signed instruments by them likely to be ‘‘**Exceptionally Rare**”.*

**William Hearn** – **October, 1857 Ad** -Toronto – (open source copy) – **Note:** ad states ”formerly Hearn & Potter”. The Hearn & Potter partnership started in 1853 & dissolved sometime in 1857, making any signed instruments by them likely to be ‘‘**Exceptionally Rare**”.

”*Surveying Instrument Makers of Central Canada*” – **1993** – **Authoritative Paper** Published by Acknowledged Experts, Historians, Collectors & Authors; William J. Daniels, OLS & Randall C. Brooks, BSc MSc PhD (Astronomy/Hist. of Science) – **Note:** This article confirms the ‘**Instrument, Case & Tripod Combo Package**‘ immediately below is ”**EXCEPTIONALLY RARE**” when it states (on page 1040): ”***ONLY 3 INSTRUMENTS ARE KNOWN BY HEARN & POTTER***” (the instrument “combo” below is **NOT** one of the 3 previously known …….. It was found inside the wall of an old Guelph house during demolition of the wall & I acquired it for my collection, directly from the old house owner who, thinking I might have an interest in it, contacted me @ my Land Surveying business known then as BSRD Surveyors).

*Hearn & Potter* (**SIGNED, EXCEPTIONALLY RARE COMBO**) 1853-1857 **Dumpy Level** (optical tube 10.5” retracted x 11.63” extended) with Original Case (17”L x 4.44”w x 5”h) & **Tripod** (56”) -1ab

________________________________________________________________________________

*Harrison & Co.* – Montreal – (**c.1870-c1880’s**) **Tilting Staff Level** *(with Original Case*) – **TOUGH FIND** -1aa

*Harrison & Co.* – Montreal – (**c.1870-c1880’s**) **Tilting Staff Level** *(with Original Case*) – **TOUGH FIND** -1ee

*Harrison & Co.* – Montreal – (**c.1870-c1880’s**) **Tilting Staff Level** *(with Original Case*) – **TOUGH FIND** -1gg

*Harrison & Co.* – Montreal – (**c.1870-c1880’s**) **Tilting Staff Level** (*with Original Case*) – **TOUGH FIND** -1rr

*Harrison & Co.* – Montreal – (**c.1870-c1880’s**) **Tilting Staff Level** (*with Original Case*) – **TOUGH FIND** -1tt

*Harrison & Co.* – Montreal – (**c.1870-c1880’s**) **Tilting Staff Level** (*with Original Case*) – **TOUGH FIND** -1uu

____________________________________________________________________________________