CECIL E. HANSON COLLECTION
ANTIQUE SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

AMERICAN TRANSITS

A. Lietz & Co., San Francisco, CA, ca 1920

Serial Number: 8167
Telescope Length: 8-1/4"
Diameter of Horizontal Circle: 4"
Needle Length: 3-1/2"
Diameter of Vertical Arc: 4"
Height: 11-1/2"
Weight: 10 lb
Condition: Good
CEH Inventory# T49

Picture on the right is from the Lietz Catalog, 15th
Edition. ca 1926. Indicates that this instrument is a
Lietz 5-inch Engineers' Precision Transit.

A. LIETZ CO. HISTORY

by Francois "Bud" Uzes

Adolph Lietz was born in Leubeck, Germany in 1860. He immigrated to San Francisco in 1879 and worked in several scientific instrument shops before opening his own business. Lietz purchased the business of Carl Rahsskopff in 1880 and began his own business in 1882.  Lietz originally joint ventured with another maker, Gottlieb A. Mauerhan, to form "Lietz and Mauerhan," a relationship that lasted for about a year.  Following Mauerhan's departure, Lietz paired up with Conrad J. Weinmann who had previously worked for Carl Rahsskopff.  The company was renamed "A. Lietz & Co." and at that time produced surveying instruments and related tools.   The firm incorporated in 1892 under the name "The A. Lietz Company" and Weinmann possibly left at about that time.   In 1910 a complete line of drafting materials and engineering equipment was added. In 1947, after 65 years of production, the firm discontinued the manufacturing of surveying instruments. The reason given was that it would be necessary and very costly to retool in order to manufacture the types of modern instruments then being marketed. Their business changed to being an importer and distributor. In 1960 the company started handling the Umeco brand of surveying instruments  and then added instruments from Japan made by Sokkisha. The Frank Paxton Company purchased the business in 1965 and moved its headquarters to Kansas City, Missouri.  The company name was also changed to "The Lietz Company."  Additional restructuring took place during the early 1990's and the firm name was again changed, this time to "Sokkia."

References: 

(1) Smart, Charles E. The Makers Of Surveying Instruments In America Since 1700 Troy, New York: Regal Art Press. 1962 

(2) Lantz, Kristy "Lietz, A History of the Company," Professional Surveyor, Frederick, MD, March/April 1984 

(3) Lietz catalogs of 1888, 1894 and 1911

(4) late-19th century San Francisco city directories

Excerpted from “Makers of Surveying Instruments of America since 1700” by Charles Smart, 1962, Vol 1, p. 133:

A. LIETZ CO. (1882 - C)
San Francisco, California

Adolph Lietz Sr. was born in Leubeck, Germany on April 25, 1860. He died in San Francisco on June 25, 1935.
The Cycolotomic Transit as made by Lietz is described in “Plane Surveying” by Paul C. Nugent. It was published by John Wiley & Sons in 1902.
There is a copy in the New York State Library in Albany.
He first started making transits and levels in 1882. He also made a dividing engine which was used for many years and is occasionally used at the present time.

Link to 1926 Lietz Catelog for more company history: CLICK HERE