CECIL E. HANSON COLLECTION
ANTIQUE SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

AMERICAN TRANSITS

R. Seelig - Chicago, IL, ca. early 1900's

Telescope Length: 11-1/2"
Spirit Level Length: 6"
Diameter of Horizontal Circle: 6-3/4"
Needle Length: 4-1/2"
Diameter of Vertical Arc: 1/2 arc,5"
Overall Height:12"
Limb Height: 6-3/4"
Weight: Instrument,14-1/2 lb; Instrument + Box, 24 lb
Box: Fair condition. One latch missing. 14-1/2"H, 10"W, 10-1/2"D
Instrument Condition: Very Good.
Found: March 24, 1967 - Buff & Buff Co., Boston, MA
CEH Inventory# T19

This instrument appears to be in good working condition. The telescope focuses and cross hairs are clear. All level bubbles are intact and the compass needle moves freely.

The compass face is engraved "R. Seelig, Chicago". This indicates that the instrument was likely manufactured before 1905 when he brought his son into his business (see history below). The picture and description of the Complete Engineers Transit shown in the1902 Seelig catalog, p.21 (above), closely matches this transit. Instruments made after 1905 were likely engraved "Seelig and Son, Chicago" (e.g. this transit sold at a Worthpoint auction)

Inside the door of the box is a label (see picture) titled "Pittsburg Instrument & Machine Company" - Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They possibly could have sold the instrument or repaired it. On the outside top of the box is a tag (see picture) that indicates that the instrument was owned by "The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company" and was sent to "Buff & Buff Mfg" in 192?. Possibly this was being traded in for a new instrument. The instrument was obtained from Buff & Buff in 1967 by a collector and has been in climate controlled storage since then. 

Roman Seelig Instrument Maker (Adapted from Smart's "The Makers of Surveying Instruments in America since 1700" and The Compleat Surveyor):

Known Business Entities:

  • Herr and Seelig - 1884 to 1893
  • Seelig and Kandler - 1893 to 1895
  • R. Seelig Company - 1895 to1905
  • Seelig and Son - 1905 to1917

In 1884 Roman Seelig and Peter Herr joined to form the partnership of Herr & Seelig, they purchased the business of Leo R. Strassberger of Chicago, IL. Peter Herr was born in Gerlacseim, Baden Germany on December 10, 1851 and died in Chicago on November 1, 1938. Roman Seelig, a brother-in·law of Peter Herr, was born in Blesen, East Germany on November 22, 1848. He came to the United States in 1862.

This partnership lasted until 1893 when Roman Seelig joined with Edmund Kandler to form Seelig and Kandler. The Seelig and Kandler partnership was short lived lasting only 2 years, the partnership was dissolved in 1895.

Peter Herr went on to create Peter Herr & Company, Edmund Kandler created Kandler & Gaertner, and Roman Seelig created R. Seelig Company.

Peter Herr & Co. existed until 1906, when a corporation under the name of Eugene Dietzgen Co. Factory was organized as an Illinois corporation. Peter Herr worked for Eugene Dietzgen Co. until he retired on March 1, 1912.

Roman Seelig was issued a  US Patent in 1904 for an improved telescope adjustment and continued the business on his own until 1905. He then brought his son, Edward, into the business and changed the company name to Seelig and Son.  This lasted until 1917 when his son died unexpectedly at the age of 38. Roman Seelig was reported retired when he died in 1924.