Photo by David Friend Productions, San Diego, California
IMPROVED TRANSIT THEODOLITE by BENJAMIN PIKE & SONS
06-004. American, early 3rd quarter 19th century, signed in script on the compass face "B. Pike & Sons,
518 Bdway, N.Y." and on the telescope by the original owner "A.W. Ferreira D'Aguira." Made of black
painted brass, with lacquered brass fittings, and standing 13 1/2" high on its 4-screw leveling
base. The telescope is 9 1/2" long, with erecting eyepiece, 1 1/8" diameter objective, rack &
pinion focussing and draw-tube movement to the eyepiece, and a 5 1/4" long bubble level mounted
underneath. The vertical circle is 5 1/8" diameter, graduated on silver and mounted on a 6 1/2"
tall support attached to the top plate. The horizontal circle is 7" diameter under the top plate,
with silvered scale, two opposing verniers, and tangent screw control; the compass housing is 6 1/4"
diameter, with 5" needle. The transit is complete and in very good overall condition. The original
9 1/2" x 9 3/4" x 16 1/2" fitted mahogany case is very worn, but is still fully serviceable. See
pages 73-76 in Willam H. Skerritt's "Catalog of the Charles E. Smart Collection of Antique Surveying
Instruments" for descriptions of two similer but smaller transits by Benjamin Pike & Sons.
