Surveyor's Compass

Description:

W. & L. E. Gurley submitted this instrument to the U. S. Patent Office in support of their application for a patent describing an Improvement in Telescope Attachments for Surveyors’ Compasses. The patent (#205,742) was issued on July 9, 1878. The Patent Office transferred this model to the Smithsonian in 1926.

The basic instrument is a standard small compass with a north-south level on the north arm, and an east-west level and an outkeeper on the south arm. The hand-engraved signature indicates that the compass was made before the middle of 1876. The telescope, which attaches to one of the sight vanes, was presumably made shortly before the patent application was submitted in June 1878. The signature reads "W. & L. E. Gurley" and "Troy, N.Y."

Maker: W. & L. E. Gurley

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: New York, Troy

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences, Surveying and Geodesy, Measuring & Mapping

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: PH.308958Catalog Number: 308958Accession Number: 89797Patent Number: 205,742

Object Name: Surveyor's CompassObject Type: Patent Model

Measurements: overall length: 12 3/4 in; 32.385 cmneedle: 4 in; 10.16 cmtelescope: 8 5/8 in; 21.9329 cmoverall; case: 4 1/4 in x 13 3/4 in x 6 5/8 in; 10.795 cm x 34.925 cm x 16.8275 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a8-8aa9-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_997218

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