345

Antique Berger Transit

Currency:USD Category:Construction Equipment Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Antique Berger Transit
IMPORTANT NOTE ON BUYERS PREMIUMS:

Lot 100 to 343 have a premium of 15%.

The rest of the sale is 19.5% as noted in the listing.

Lot Pick Up: Holabird-Kagin Americana,
3555 Airway Drive Ste #309,
Reno NV 89511,
Sunday - December 9, 10am-4pm
c1913 - Beautiful transit in dovetailed wooden box, with fitted leather carry case and adjustable straps, all with brass fittings. The fine leather bag measures 13" x 7" x 7" and is stamped on front "Wesley Trunk Co./ Mpls., Minn." The outside of the leather case bears a "University of Minnesota/ 1070753/ Do Not Remove" label, which perhaps indicates that this transit was used or kept by the School of Mines & Metallurgy. The wooden box bears a simple metal tag on top that is marked "Berger/ Transits and Levels/ Boston. U.S.A." to the right of the Berger & Sons logo. The interior of the wooden box lid bears an original card label: "C. L. Berger & Sons,/ Manufacture all kinds of/ Surveying, Engineering and Astronomical Instruments/ Large Illustrated Catalogue and Manual of their/ Improved Engineers` Field Instruments, Tapes,/ Chains, Leveling=rods, etc./ No. 37 Williams Street, Boston, Mass./ Instruments carefully repaired and adjusted/ 9342". The patent dates for this serial number are 1897 and 1901. This box contains an auxiliary mining scope, which could mount to the main scope to shoot more points in confined spaces. All the screws, adjustments and bubble levels are intact and functional. The box also contains the brass plum bob, an alternate sunshade, and the counterweight. The transit itself has a compass in the base (not functional). There are mirrors at each side to view the compass and transit dial for reading while viewing through the scope. All lens covers are present. The matching wooden Gurley expandable tripod is fully adjustable, with brass fittings and hardware, and steel-tipped brass feet, and measures 46" long. The items in this lot are in excellent condition, with age-standard abrasions, erosion on the brass buckles, and general wear. C.L. Berger was born in Stuttgart, and after apprentice work in Germany, came to America to ply his skilled trade. He initially partnered with G.L. Buff, starting Buff & Berger in 1871. They parted ways in 1898, and Berger started his own company in 1898, which survived until 1995. Before this lot was auctioned in 2008, it was part of the Collection of the Late Ronald Kiser of Mars Hill, North Carolina. -62234