CECIL E. HANSON COLLECTION
ANTIQUE SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

AMERICAN LEVELS

J. H. Temple - Boston, MA ca 1838 -1877

Serial Number:
Type: Wye Level - base and support arms only
Length of support arms: 11-1/2
Height to top of wye clamps: 8"
Weight:
Condition: Missing scope. Body and arms appear to be in good condition.
Box: Nice wooden box - 20" x 10" x 6-1/2"
Found: Unknown
CEH Inventory# L29
Information obtained from Smart, vol 1, page 159:

John H. Temple (1812-1877) began the manufacture of philosophical and school apparatus, and afterwards that of mathematical instruments. He is first listed in the Boston Directories of 1839. In 1866 he moved to West Roxbury where he died in 1877. During his lifetime he built about one hundred instruments, mainly transits and levels.

The Wye level base and arms shown above was most likely made sometime after 1838 and before his death in 1877.