Wye Level
name: label: maker
content: L. Beckmann Co.
notes: label: Description
content: This level is complex and unusual. With the telescope in its standard position, it can be used as an architect's level. With the telescope turned 90 degrees from its standard position, it can be used to measure horizontal angles. To effect this, the telescope is turned so that the level is on top and a metal fitting falls below. There is some resemblance between this level and A. S. Aloe's Convertible Level. The signature reads "THE L. BECKMANN CO. TOLEDO, O. U.S.A 9065."
label: Description
content: Louis Beckmann (1845–1914) was born in Germany. He arrived in the United States in 1870, settled in Toledo, Ohio. in 1874, and built his first dividing engine in 1878. A second dividing engine was designed in 1900, and yet another was begun in 1912. In a catalog, unfortunately undated, Beckmann wrote: "As the plates of my instruments are divided on one of the very best dividing engines of this country I can guarantee their graduation to be exact and accurately centered, both verniers reading the same." Sears, Roebuck advertised surveying instruments signed "L. Beckmann Co." during the period 1909–1911. Louis Beckmann Jr. continued manufacturing instruments until 1945, and repairing them until 1951.
label: Description
content: Ref: L. Beckmann, <i>Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of Civil Engineers' and Surveyors' Instruments</i> (Toledo, Ohio, n.d.).
label: Description
content: Charles Smart, <i>The Makers of Surveying Instruments in America Since 1700</i> (Troy, N.Y., 1962), p. 6.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Ohio, Toledo
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
label: See more items in
content: Surveying and Geodesy
label: See more items in
content: Measuring & Mapping
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Beckmann, L.. Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of Civil Engineers' and Surveyors' Instruments
label: Related Publication
content: Smart, Charles E.. Makers of Surveying Instruments in America Since 1700
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: The University of Toledo, Department of Civil Engineering
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PH.337207
label: accession number
content: 1979.0635
label: catalog number
content: 337207
objectType: label: Object Name
content: level (wye)
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: telescope: 12 in; 30.48 cm
label: Measurements
content: needle: 3 in; 7.62 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall in case: 8 1/2 in x 14 in x 5 1/2 in; 21.59 cm x 35.56 cm x 13.97 cm