Surveyors' level

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This surveyors' level was made around 1815, probably by John Miller and Alexander Adie, scientific instrument makers based in Edinburgh between 1804 and 1822. It is made of brass with a mahogany base.

The brass cover is pierced to show a longitudinal glass levelling bubble. There is a pinhole sight and window sight with horizontal crosshair at each end of the level. The push fit mahogany cover fits between the sights. Stamped on the lid is 'MILLER AND ADIE EDINBURGH'.

John Miller (1746-1815) was one of the most important Scottish scientific instrument makers of his generation. This example of a spirit level is one of a number of modifications to the instrument - used in particular by land surveyors - known to have been made by him.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-675-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1994.17
• Date: Around 1815
  c. 1815
  
• Material: Mahogany base and cover, brass cover and sights, and glass bubble. Inscription: Lid: MILLER AND ADIE EDINBURGH
  Sighting level
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Sighting level
  
• Subject:
• Who: John Miller and Alexander Adie, Edinburgh (Instrument maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Sighting level of mahogany and brass, by John Miller and Alexander Adie, Edinburgh, c. 1815
  
• References:
  • A similar device, but incorporating an altitude scale, is illustrated in John Francis Erskine of Mar, General View of the Country of Clackmannan. Edinburgh: 1795, p 80 
  • For Miller, see 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. pp 25 
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