Collectibles -> Science-Medical -> Surveying Equipment

While many people collect cat figurines, dolls, books, sports memorabilia and almost anything you can think of, fewer people collect things like surveying equipment, medical instruments, mining tools and things of that nature. But those who do collect them are enthusiastic about their hobby, and usually quite well-versed on the history of the things they collect.

A piece of antique surveying equipment isn’t just something old and valuable, it’s part of our scientific history. Finding this equipment intact is a real thrill for most collectors, because it represents the ingenuity, creativity and inventiveness of us as a people. Our ability to calculate, think logically and create sets us apart from other living creatures on this planet, and antique scientific equipment of all kinds are representations of our development into the society we are today, and the technological advances yet to come.

An early piece of surveying equipment, one of the earliest in fact, was first mentioned in a writing by Thomas Digges in 1571. The device, called a theodolite, looked like a small tripod-mounted telescope. The surveyor would look through the scope and calculate distance between two points with the help of mirrors and etched glass. This was the hallmark device of surveyors for over 200 years.

Surveying, though, dates back to 1400 BC, when the ancient Egyptians began dividing plots of land to better tax people. It was given new purpose in 120 BC when the Greeks, using their newly developed science of geometry, surveyed for the purpose of dividing land much more precisely than it had been done before. The Greeks were the first to come up with a general set of procedures for surveying land. They also invented the first real piece of surveying equipment, the diopter, which served the same purpose as the theodolite.

With the industrial revolution of the 1800s came the need to find exact boundaries of land plots. Surveying equipment became more intricate and accurate, and the use of geodetic and plane surveying began. Geodetic surveying was the most accurate surveying ever done, as it followed the shape of the land precisely over long distances. While plane surveying, the most common method of surveying used still today, assumed that the distance between two points was a flat plane.

In the 70s, the total station replaced the long-standing theodolite as the surveying equipment of choice. Today’s total stations use lasers to calculate distance, and trigonometry is used instead of geometry to make calculations. Digital levels have replaced bubble levels, and all pieces of vintage surveying equipment have been replaced with new and improved digital, electric and computerized versions. Some surveyors even use GPS systems, though not exclusively.

When shopping for vintage surveying equipment online, there are some stores that do nothing but sell, buy, trade, repair and restore such equipment. These are good resources for history and background, and even for finding that rare piece you’re after. Online auctions are great sources, too, but be sure to search for “vintage” or “antique” surveying equipment to avoid modern equipment listings.

Photo credits: State Records NSW

Originally posted 2008-10-15 14:00:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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