This instrument is marked "C. L. Berger & Sons. Boston, Mass. ML 1172 MADE IN U.S.A." and was probably made during World War II. Berger described it as an Engineers' Tilting Dumpy Level Model No. 10-X, noting that it was a "Wartime Development to simplify and expedite Peacetime Engineering Procedure." It was speedy, accurate, simplified, and streamlined, and could be used at night. This example belonged to the United States Geological Survey. It has an ivory finish, and the case is olive drab. The ML in the serial number may indicate that it was made for military use.
Ref: C. L. Berger & Sons, Inc., A Berger Instrument of Precision for Engineering and Surveying (Boston, 1945).
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