CECIL E. HANSON COLLECTION
ANTIQUE SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

AMERICAN TRANSITS

Keuffel & Esser Co. - New York, NY, ca.1906

Serial Number: 11070 (On Horz Plate)
Telescope Length:
Diameter of Horizontal Circle: 5-1/2"
Needle Length: 3-3/4"
Diameter of Vertical Arc: 1/2 Arc 4-1/2"
Height: 10-1/4"
Weight: 10 lb
Box: 14"H, 10-1/2"W, 8"D
Condition: Good
Found: March 24, 1967; Buff&Buff Co., Boston, MA
CEH Inventory# T25

Excerpted from “Makers of Surveying Instruments of America since 1700” by Charles Smart, 1967, Vol 1, p. 93 and Vol 2, p. 224: 

KEUFFEL & ESSER CO. (1867 - C)
W. J. D. Keuffel (1838 - 1908)
Herman Esser (1845 - 1908) 

Hoboken, New Jersey

Wilhelm J. D. Keuffel was born at Walbeck in Thuringen, Germany on July 21, 1838. He died in Hoboken on October 1, 1908.

Herman Esser was born at Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany, 30 December 1945. He retired from Keuffel & Esser in 1902. He was back in Bad Godesberg am Rheim, Germany 23 April 1902. He died there 16 April 1908.

Keuffel & Esser was founded July 19, 1867. It was incorporated in New Jersey on February 16, 1889.

They first manufactured surveying instruments in 1885.

There is a Keuffel & Esser Co. New York Railroad transit in the Gurley Museum. It has an 11" telescope, 6-1/2" limb and 4-1/2" needle. The serial number is 29034. It was manufactured about 1914.

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For Keuffel & Esser Corporation historical time line go to: http://www.antiquesurveying.com/K&E History.htm