Altitude and Azimuth Instrument

Object Details

Buff & Berger

Description

This instrument came from the John C. Green Astronomical Observatory at Princeton University. New, it cost $680. The horizontal circle is silvered, graduated to 20 minutes, and read by opposite verniers with magnifiers and ground glass plates to 20 seconds. The vertical circle is silvered, graduated to 20 minutes, and read by opposite verniers with magnifiers and ground glass plates to single minutes. The telescope has a filar micrometer eyepiece; the attached level has a micrometer adjustment. The inscription reads "Buff & Berger, Boston No. 159."

George L. Buff and Christian Louis Berger went into business in Boston in 1871, manufacturing "all kinds of surveying, astronomical, mathematical and philosophical instruments." Buff & Berger was remarkably successful, attracting numerous customers, and winning awards at state and national exhibitions. The firm was dissolved in 1898, and succeeded by Buff & Buff and by C. L. Berger & Sons.

Ref: Buff & Berger, Hand Book and Illustrated Catalogue of the Engineers' and Surveyors' Instruments (Boston, 1890), p. 129.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Princeton University

ID Number

1983.0245.01

accession number

1983.0245

catalog number

1983.0245.01

Object Name

altitude and azimuth instrument

Measurements

overall: 11 1/2 in; 29.21 cm

horizontal circle: 8 in; 20.32 cm

vertical circle: 5 1/4 in; 13.335 cm

telescope: 11 1/2 in; 29.21 cm

level: 6 in; 15.24 cm

overall; in case: 13 in x 11 1/4 in x 10 1/2 in; 33.02 cm x 28.575 cm x 26.67 cm

place made

United States: Massachusetts, Boston

Related Publication

Buff & Berger. Hand-book and Illustrated Catalogue of the Engineers' and Surveyors' Instruments, Made by Buff & Berger

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Surveying and Geodesy

Measuring & Mapping

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_747474

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-6d68-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa