The Vintage Transits, Theodolites & Compasses sub-menu pages below, show vintage surveying instruments that accurately (for their time) measured horizontal and/or vertical angles using either dedicated optics to read angular degrees, minutes & seconds on precisely incised circular scales or vernier scales read “by eye” without the benefit of dedicated optics. “Transits & Theodolites” also had sighting telescopes on pivoting arms, whereas “Compasses” typically employed a magnetic ‘’needle’’ & less accurate “sighting” vanes or even more imprecise “peep” sights to primarily determine horizontal angles & direction (sometimes specialized compasses were used to measure vertical angles). The vast majority of these various types of vintage field instruments were composed almost entirely of brass & were made by very highly skilled craftsmen. ……. 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 Transits, Theodolites & Compasses 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:

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Circumferentor vs Compass – an Explanation

 

Charles Potter – 1890 Photo (operated in Toronto as ”Charles Potter, Instrument Maker” 1857-1899 (open source) -1aa

 

Charles Potter, Toronto – ”Instrument Maker” – 1888 Ad – Toronto Engineering Society Publication (open source copy) -1aa

 

William Henry Lovett Lapenotiere, PLS (b.1839-d.1893), practiced in Woodstock, Ontario 1862, then Village of Elora & Wellington County vicinities c.1862/63-c.1893) – (SEE CIRCUMFERENTOR LISTED BELOW) – [1862 Wedding Photo with wife Isabella Jane Finlayson copied from on-line McCord Stewart Museum Records] -1aa
Clemens Derstine Bowman, PLS, OLS – (b.1857-d.1951), obtained PLS licence July 10, 1879 (after being articled to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS) & practiced in West Montrose & Waterloo County vicinities 1879-c.1941 (SEE CIRCUMFERENTOR LISTED BELOW) – [Bowman photo copied from old AOLS Annual Report].
Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1aa

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1bb

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1dd

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1ff

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1gg

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1hh

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1ii

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1kk

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1ll

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1nn

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1pp

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1oo

 

Charles Potter Vernier Circumferentor & Casec.1857-c.1899 – 5.75” needle – 16” plate – dual level vials – vernier to set magnetic declination – socket mount missing – Very likely belonged to W.H.L. Lapenotiere, PLS and/or C.D. Bowman, PLS, OLS -1qq

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T. Cooke & Sons1897-1899 Theodolite with Original Case & Tripod (red paint not original) -1ab

 

T. Cooke & Sons -1897-1899 Theodolite with Original Case & Tripod (red paint not original) -1b

 

T. Cooke & Sons1897-1899 Theodolite with Original Case & Tripod (red paint not original) -1q

 

T. Cooke & Sons1897-1899 Theodolite with Original Case & Tripod (red paint not original) -1t

 

T. Cooke & Sons1897-1899 Theodolite with Original Case & Tripod (red paint not orig.) -1u

 

T. Cooke & Sons1897-1899 Theodolite with Original Case & Tripod (red paint not orig.) -1v

 

T. Cooke & Sons1897-1899 Theodolite with Original Case & Tripod (red paint not orig.) -1w

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K&EStadia Hand Transit’‘ – as per above pg.424 of K&E 1909 Catalog –1bb

 

K&E c.1907-c.1909 ”Stadia Hand Transit” (c/w Levelling Attachment & Leather Case) -1aa

 

K&E c.1907-c.1909 ”Stadia Hand Transit” (c/w Levelling Attachment & Leather Case) -1bb

 

K&E c.1907-c.1909 ”Stadia Hand Transit” (c/w Levelling Attachment & Leather Case) -1o

 

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