K & E Improved Transit 5085C, made by Kueffel & Esser Co., N.Y. & Hoboken, (1924.)

Object/Artifact

-

Hoboken Historical Museum

transit in case

transit in case

Name/Title

K & E Improved Transit 5085C, made by Kueffel & Esser Co., N.Y. & Hoboken, (1924.)

Entry/Object ID

2009.001.0030

Description

K & E Improved [Engineer's] Transit 5085C, made by Kueffel & Esser Co., New York & Hoboken, (1924.) Metal, glass, celluoid and leather in original mahogany fitted wood storage box. Accessories present: sunshade; three trivet points (legs); storage base; listed feature on maker's plate as "With Disappearing Stadia". Serial no. 47356 (on plate and instrument.) Former property of State of South Dakota, State College, with contemporary decal on box top and a modern metal inventory marker of South Dakota State [University] on vernier plate; stenciled '16' in white on telescope barrel. Not present: trivet; original tripod as issued with the kit; key to hinged door lock; plus other typical accessories usually issued with it such as lens cap, plumb bob, screwdriver, etc. The 5085 C is listed, described and depicted on pages 306-307 of the 36th edition catalog of 1921. See images of those pages. Serial number indicates manufacture in 1924 from established records of the first numbered instrument of the production year. The "disappearing stadia" was item no. 5167-53, Disappearing Stadia Hairs & Diaphragm, listed on page 328 of the same edition. It was a factory installed option. Selected catalogue description: Improved Transit with U-Shaped Standard and with Compass...as described under No. 5082C, but with full Vertical Circle [boldface] 5" diameter, graduated on solid silver [italics] to half degrees, double-direct VERNIER reading to one minute. GUARD to circle. In the 37th edition of 1927, the name was changed from "Improved Transit" to "Engineer's Transit." Manufacturer's plate with the typical bird's-eye view of the main office and factories in Hoboken is is inside door. It is printed on 3-1/4" square white celluloid plastic with holographic entries in black ink for model number, serial number, special features as well as the constant to be used for calibration. K&E main office and factories were in Hoboken where this item was made.

Acquisition

Accession

2009.001

Source or Donor

Purchase

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Credit Line

Museum Collections.

Made/Created

Date made

1924 - 1924

Notes

Date: 1924-1924

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

General Notes

Note

Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2009-10-16