In 2015 Johan and Alex went by an old land surveyor who wanted to pass on some of his things. From him we obtained a few typical surveying equipment from roughly 50 years ago. On this page you can see these items and their story. Please be very careful with these instruments, as they are very fragile. Don't drop them!

A Kern DKR from about 1938, this is a classical theodolite at the peak of its evolutionary track. It was one of the last all mechanical and non electric models to be made. The optics are amazing, especially how it reads the alt/az coordinates. (See last image)

Using the theodolite is relatively easy once you have seen someone use it, there is a wide variety of movable knobs on the instrument and a few peepholes that let you see various things. The main one is ofcourse the little telescope that is attached to the instrument, it has a large and very sharp magnification. Next to that you can see the alt/az coordinates of the tube if you shine in the light correctly. Finally on the side there is a small objective allowing you to look at the bottom of the device, to see if it is aligned correctly. This instrument can only be setup outside on a rough surface

The thee screws on the bottom help you align the instrument and make it perfectly level, which is done by using the many levels that are on the instrument. Once complete, you can measure the height of the instrument and use basic math to do various surveying operations. [][][][][]

A dumpy level is an optical instrument used to establish or check points in the same horizontal plane. It is used in surveying and building with a vertical staff to measure height differences and so transfer, measure and set heights. This particular model is a 'Wild Waterpas' and stems from around 1965. It comes with its own tripod and can only be set up outside on a rough surface. This level has a few water levels hidden on its surface and one that you can see trough a small eyepiece. Setting all of these into the center, allows you to make precise measurements. [][][][]

This instrument was used as an extension to measuring nails that were beat into the ground. It could be positioned very careful above a marker and then be extended upwards by a known distance. [][]

A 3m long measuring stick from kern, from about the same time as the Dumpy level. It is unfolded and put upright on the ground, and can then be read by either the dumpy level or the theodolite. Note that the numbers are up side down because the telescopes flip that. When opening, be careful with the hinge, as it might bend if treated wrongly, always rest it on your foot and not the ground. [][]