Wye and Dumpy levels were discussed in Article 17. Both of these used a level bubble to determine a horizontal plane. The first real innovation following the use of the level bubble occurred in Europe around the 1950s with the development of the automatic level. Automatic levels use compensating devices, for example a pendulum apparatus, in place of the bubble.
The first automatic level that was used extensively was the Zeiss Model Ni2. It was introduced in 1950. By 1970, Zeiss stated that the company had produced over 50,000 levels of this sort in the past twenty years. Other companies followed. The collection has several automatic levels; a Zeiss Ni2, a Topcon AT-G6, a Kern GKO-A and a Jena Ni025.
Zeiss Ni2 Automatic Level. The top of the level is engraved “Ni2 arctic ZEISS OPTON Nr 144971 Germany.” It was acquired by Kinloch Underwood & Associates Ltd. of Edmonton, AB through the purchase of assets and equipment from the previous survey firm, J.B. Underwood and Associates Ltd. of Edmonton, AB in 1974. It was used by Kinloch Underwood for surveying projects in Alberta.
Donated by Monroe Kinloch, ALS (Hon. Life).
ALSA 2008.02.19
Tripod ALSA 2008.03.01
Diagram of Zeiss Ni2 level showing compensating device. Copied from 1958 Hughes-Owens Company (Limited) Catalogue, page 307. It was advertised to have a mean accuracy of plus or minus 0.01 feet per mile. The catalogue belonged to J.B. Underwood and Associates Limited, Edmonton.
Topcon AT-G6 Automatic Level. It uses a magnetically dampened compensator hung by four special mylar ribbons. The accuracy is plus or minus 2.0 mm in 1 km. This level is relatively new, introduced by the Topley Company in 1990. The Topley Company was established in Japan in 1932. In 2008 it merged with Sokkisha. Donated by Harvey Cummings, ALS.
ALSA 2007.26. 01
Kern GKO-A Automatic level. Serial No. 229530. It is advertised as a construction level. It has a built in horizontal circle. The compensator is supported by a ball bearing on a small steel axis. Date of manufacture is unknown.
Donated by Grant Cross, ALS (Ret.)
ALSA 2008.10.11
Jena Ni025 Automatic level. Serial No. 215940. The label on the bottom left-hand corner says “ausJENA MADE IN GERMANY.” The date of manufacture is unknown, however there is a label on the case stating that it was serviced in 1979. It was owned by Reginald Watson, ALS#255. Reg was one of the founding partners of Stewart Weir and was president of the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association in 1975.
Reg Watson Estate
SHF 2015.01.51
Sources of Information:
- 100 Years of Geodetic Surveys in Canada
- Topcon Museum: https://www.topcon.co.jp/en/positioning/museum/
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Surveying and Geodesy, Automatic Level: https://amhistory.si.edu/surveying/type.cfm?typeid=13
- Kern GKO-A (pdf) Instructions – Swisstek: http://www.swisstek.com/gk0-a/images/gk0-a.pdf
Author: Gord Olsson, ALS (Hon. Life)
July 7, 2022
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