Surveyors' level

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This surveyors' level (pictured here in its wooden case) was made around 1850, probably by Alexander Adie & Son, scientific instrument makers based in Edinburgh. It is made of brass.

The level has a bubble tube slung under the telescope, and is supplied with an extra eye-piece. It does not have a levelling head, with fitted screws, which would have fitted underneath between the level and the tripod.

The market for surveying instruments continued well into the 19th century. Instruments like this level would have been used by civil engineers in the many new urban projects undertaken by the Victorians, such as new roads, railways and water supply.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-696-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1959.40
• Date: Around 1850
  c. 1850
  
• Material: Wood case
  Level, surveyor's / case
  
• Dimensions: 11.00" x 8.00" x 3.50" overall
  
• What: Level, surveyor's / case
  
• Subject: 5. CARTOGRAPHY, Surveying (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Adie and Son, 50 Princes Street, Edinburgh (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Brass surveyor's level, in a wooden case, by Adie and Son of Edinburgh, 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 45 
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