| The Cartographers and Surveyors of the Continental Army in the War for American Independence | |||
| About the Unit | History | Documents & Maps | Instruments & Equip. |
| Event Schedule | Photographs | Join the Unit | Links · Guestbook |
| Return to Home | |||
INSTRUMENTS & EQUIPMENT
 |
|
| Also be sure to visit these links for images of original instruments: | |
|
|
| Left: a plate from Leybourn's Compleat Surveyor (1722). If only chainmen were indeed winged cherubs...the job would go so much faster! |
For sources of reproduction equipment, see the links page.
Click here to view a July 1781 letter from Thomas Hutchins (Geographer to the Southern Department) requesting more than 25 specific pieces of cartography and surveying equipment.
|
Hadley Octant (circa 1760, George Adams, London) |
Octant (1778, Benjamin Condy, Philadelphia). NMAH |
Graphometer (Lennel, Paris, 1776). Dewitt-Wallace Museum |
|
Surveyor's Compass (Goldsmith Chamblee, Winchester, VA, ca. 1805). Dewitt-Wallace Museum |
Reproduction Plane Table & Alidade. Dewitt-Wallace Museum |
Reproduction Tripod. Dewitt-Wallace Museum |
|
Surveyor's Chain & Pins (Probably England, ca. 1775-1825). Dewitt-Wallace Museum |
Left: Inkhorn & Bottle (1750-1800); Right: Drawing Instruments & Case (1750-1800). Dewitt-Wallace Museum |
Waywiser or Perambulator (Heath & Wing, London, ca. 1751-1773) NMAH |
|
Mahogany Pocket Compass (owned by Capt. Joseph McClellan, Cont'l Army) NMAH |
Gunter's Rule (Scale) (England, ca. 1800, wood) Bell Artifacts Collection |
Waywiser or Perambulator (Benjamin Martin, London, ca. 1775) Snellenburg |
|
Collection of Pocket Compasses (Paul Madden Antiques) |
Pre-1823 Pocket Compass with inscription on inside cover (Paul Madden Antiques) |
Surveyor's Compass (Joseph Linck, fecit, Friburg, Brisg. Circa 1770- 1790, 6" square) (Paul Madden Antiques) |
Simple Theodolite (John Cuff, c. 1750, London) (James Kennedy Antiques) |
Wooden Survey Compass w/cover (John Dupee, Boston, c. 1760) (Paul Madden Antiques) |
Wooden Gunter's Scale (marked Isiiah Eldridge, 1750, 24"x1.65") (Paul Madden Antiques)
|
|
Theodolite (Benjamin Cole, mid 18th century, bears coat of arms of the Duke of Cumberland) www.scienceandsociety.co.uk |
Alidade & Plane Table (Benjamin Cole, 1745-55) www.scienceandsociety.co.uk |
Surveyor's Level (J. Jackson, The Strand, London, mid 18th century) www.scienceandsociety.co.uk |
|
Brass Alidade w/folding sights (Gourdin, Paris, 1779, 5.5 cm x 49 cm) www.geometricum.com |
 Reproduction Surveyor's Tripod (CWF) |
 Reproduction Surveyor's Tripod (CWF) |
 circa 1781 Watercolor Box (Thomas Reeves of Holborn) (courtesy Green & Stone) |
 circa 1781 Watercolor Box (Thomas Reeves of Holborn) (courtesy Green & Stone) |
 circa 1781 Watercolor Box (Thomas Reeves of Holborn) (courtesy Green & Stone) |
 circa 1781 Watercolor Box (Thomas Reeves of Holborn) (courtesy Green & Stone) |
 circa 1781 Watercolor Box (Thomas Reeves of Holborn) (courtesy Green & Stone) |
 circa 1800 Stationery Box (courtesy Green & Stone) |
 circa 1800 Stationery Box (courtesy Green & Stone) |
 circa 1800 Stationery Box (courtesy Green & Stone) |
 circa 1800 Stationery Box (courtesy Green & Stone) |
|
Cornwallis' Campaign Table (at Yorktown National Battlefield Park. See photo of information sheet for more details) |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
DETAILS OF INSTRUMENTS OWNED BY THE ROYAL ENGINEERS (Yorktown 225th) |
||
 |
 |
 |
| Plane Table Tripod #1 | Plane Table Tripod #2 | Plane Table Compass |
 |
 |
 |
| Plane Table Detail | Alidade Detail | Plane Table Detail |
 |
 |
 |
| Tin index used to create boxwood frame for plane table | Boxwood frame detail | Boxwood frame detail |
 |
 |
|
| Tripod detail | Compass and Three Legged Staff | Plane Table |
|
|
|
|
| Boxwood three legged staff detail | Plane Table Detail | Plane Table Detail |
![NMAH2000-03866_428px[1].jpg (63505 bytes)](../images/NMAH2000-03866_428px[1].jpg)
![74-1399[1].jpg (52012 bytes)](../images/74-1399[1].jpg)
