Surveyors' level

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This surveyors' level was made around 1850 by James White, a scientific instrument maker based in Glasgow. It is made of brass.

The level has a bubble tube mounted alongside the telescope, and slide focusing operated by a knob on the side of the outer tube. Engraved on the telescope tube is 'J. WHITE/ GLASGOW'.

James White became famous for the electrical and navigational instruments developed and patented in collaboration with William Thomson, Lord Kelvin. However, White also produced a range of optical goods, such as this conventional surveyors' level.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-756-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1980.130
• Date: Around 1850
  c. 1850
  
• Material: Brass, oxidised brass. Inscription: J. WHITE, GLASGOW
  Level
  
• Dimensions: 277 mm L
  
• What: Level
  
• Subject:
• Who: Arthur Frank Collection of Scottish Scientific Instruments
  J. White, Glasgow (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow
  
• Event:
• Description: 11" level in brass and oxidised brass, with bubble-tube mounted alongside the telescope and 4-screw head, signed by James White, Glasgow, c. 1850
  
• References:
  • Clarke, T.N., Morrison-Low, A.D. & Simpson, A.D.C. Brass & glass scientific instrument making workshops in Scotland as illustrated by instruments from the Arthur Frank Collection at the Royal Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh: NMS, 1989. p 266 
  • T.N. Clarke, A.D. Morrison-Low and A.D.C. Simpson (1989): "Brass and Glass 
• Translations:
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