F.E. Brandis, Sons & Co. SN 2398, c.1890s Surveyor Transit

Antique surveyor transit or theodolite, with integral compass, marked “F.E. Brandis, Sons & Co. 2398”, made in the 1890s by the F.E. Brandis, Sons & Co. of Brooklyn, New York. Frederick Ernest Brandis was born in 1845, beginning in 1875 his surname graced several companies which he founded, F.E. Brandis, Sons & Co. existed from 1890 until his death in 1916.

In as-found condition with more than a century’s worth of patina. It has a 7.2 inch limb and a 4.4 inch needle, an 11.2 inch telescope (with sunshade and fully extended: 13.75 inches), the focused image is sharp, see the photos. The limb rotates smoothly, as does the telescope elevation and focusing mechanism. The ‘vertical motion clamp’ thumbscrew is sheared off, due to over-tightening at some point in its long life, see the photo with pink pointer. No instrument wooden box, just the bottom plank. Weight with wood plank is 18 lbs 6 oz.

Double-box packed with extra care and ready to ship.

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REFERENCES

The Smithsonian has a nearly identical Brandis transit, serial number 1569: F. E. BRANDIS, SONS & CO. #1569

And from Russ Uzes’ compleatsurveyor.com site:

A couple of known Brandis Serial Numbers: #1615 (made in 1891), #6290 (made in 1906), see p. 9: Illustrated Price Guide to Antique Surveying Instruments and Books, by Francois D. Uzes, pub. 1980.

The Clark Institute of Art in Williamstown, Massachusetts has a F. E. Brandis Sons & Co., Brooklyn, N. Y. Theodolite No. 2482. The Gurley Museum has a Brandis transit, It has a 6" limb and a 4" needle, Serial 6290, It was manufactured around 1906. And additional company info, see pp. 14-15: The Makers Of Surveying Instruments In America Since 1700, by Charles E. Smart, Chairman of the Board of Directors W. & L. E. Gurley, pub. 1962.