Accession No

5951

Brief Description

Abney level Mk 5, used by Brian Harland during the surveys of Svalbard between 1949 and 1993, attributed to H. H. S., 1944

Origin

Maker

H. H. S. [attributed]

Class

surveying

Earliest Date

1944

Latest Date

1944

Inscription Date

1944

Material

metal (brass, oxidised brass, steel) hide (leather); glass; plastic (bakelite?)

Dimensions

(object) length 108 mm; width 44mm; height 52 mm (case) length 116 mm; width 54 mm; height 67 mm

Special Collection

Brian Harland collection

Provenance

Donated on or before 09/07/2003.

Inscription

'H. H. S.
Mk 5
B 770' (on object base)
'TD' (scratched onto spirit level mount)
'W. BRIAN HARLAND
SEDGWICK MUSEUM
CAMBRIDGE' (stamp on front of case)
'P.I.C ↑33
Mk. V.
1944' (on front of case)

Description Notes

Abney level; 1944

Square painted brass sighting tube. Pinhole sight. Diagonal mirror across upper half views bubble level through window together with the distant object. Vertical semi-circle graduated 90-0-90˚ and read by vernier arm graduated 60-0-60' and magnifying glass. Magnifying glass mount is broken and magnifying glass and attached screw are is separate. Scale of gradient 1-1 - 10 'ELEVN' and 'DEPN'. Bubble and vernier arm mounted on mutual axis controlled by milled spoked plastic wheel which has broken ends(?).

Leather case with carrying strap. Detached magnifying glass and screw are also in case.

Condition fair, some verdigris evident on body of instrument and magnifying glass; case condition good

References

Events