Help - whats it off?

**bollie7** · 3rd February 2012, 08:16 AM

G'day Everyone
I've been helping my fiance clean out her late fathers shed. He was a bit of a hoader and this ongoing process has been quite interesting to put it mildly.
Among all the junk we found this old telescopic sight.
It's interesting in that there are no makers names, marks etc whatsoever on it. It has clamps that would allow it to be clamped to the dovetails on a rifle barrel but it also has a Rabone spirit level clamped to it. All the clamps look professionally made. It also has cross hairs in it and adjustable eyepiece/lens.

If it didn't have the level on it I would have assumed it is just an old rifle sight but having the level makes me think that maybe its been used for some sort of surveying equipment, though I can't think what. I've never seen any old survey gear that had a sight like this on it.

We were thinking of putting it on Ebay but the more I look at it, the more I like it so I'm thinking of cleaning it up, re-blueing the clamps and putting it in the buffett on display. Would beat a china plate anyday in my opinion.

Ok, over to the experts, what do you reckon? Any thoughts on what it might have been used on?

regards
bollie7

**NCArcher** · 3rd February 2012, 08:35 AM

I'd say it's a basic dumpy level. Set it up level on a tripod and check that different points on the site are at the same height by viewing a mark on a staff.
(If you've never done it that explanation probably doesn't make much sense

)

**bollie7** · 3rd February 2012, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by NCArcher

I'd say it's a basic dumpy level. Set it up level on a tripod and check that different points on the site are at the same height by viewing a mark on a staff.
(If you've never done it that explanation probably doesn't make much sense

)

It does to me. I've worked on and off for years in the surveying/civil eng dept at the TAFE college where I work.

I was thinking along the lines of a dumpy myself but the dovetail clamps have thrown me a bit. They used to have a bit of a collection of old survey gear at work but nothing like this.
I'm wondering if its actually a rifle sight that someone has added the level to, to try and use it as a dumpy. To be effective like that though it would have had to be attached to some sort of swivel base on top of the legs ( tripod)

bollie7

**NCArcher** · 3rd February 2012, 02:32 PM

Yep, google antique dumpy level and there are lots of pics.
I couldn't find one the same but probably something like this

**bollie7** · 3rd February 2012, 03:41 PM

Aah Hah. Looking that way now. Its a pity the base is missing.
thanks for the info.
bollie7

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