The B.K. Elliott surveyor’s transit is a fascinating piece of engineering from the early 20th century. Built around 1910, this particular model is a rare convertible design, capable of switching between two modes: a locked-to-level mode for precise horizontal measurements and a movable pivot mode for angled observations. This flexibility made it a versatile tool for surveyors working in varied terrains and projects, from mapping land boundaries to engineering structures.
B.K. Elliott, a Pittsburgh-based company, was known for producing high-quality scientific instruments during an era when precision was paramount. The convertible transit is a testament to their commitment to innovation, offering surveyors a tool that could adapt to complex tasks in a time before electronic devices.
When I acquired this transit, it was a shadow of its former self—aged brass dulled by oxidation, mechanisms stiff from neglect, and its historical charm buried under years of grime. The restoration process was both a challenge and a joy. I carefully disassembled the instrument, cleaned the intricate parts, and polished the brass until it gleamed like it did over a century ago. The level vial and pivot mechanisms were meticulously adjusted to restore their functionality, and the instrument was calibrated to ensure it could still deliver accurate readings.
Holding this B.K. Elliott convertible transit today is like holding a piece of surveying history. It’s a reminder of how ingenuity and craftsmanship paved the way for modern tools, enabling professionals to measure, map, and build with precision.
Whether on display or in use, this 1910 B.K. Elliott transit is a bridge to a time when every calculation was made by hand and every tool was built to last. Restoring it has ensured that its legacy—and its story—can continue to inspire future generations of makers, engineers, and history enthusiasts alike.
With that all said, the entire unit has been replaced with a single modern laser level! My how times have changed.
Here is what it looked like when I picked it up from a dark damp dusty garage from an estate sale in the middle of nowhere. It was a hard choice, to either leave the patina, or go with a full restoration.
465736003_10162555767708291_137154324434759062_n
465737458_10162555724928291_4665322513367335633_n
465740448_10162555724903291_7830762971794053255_n
465782890_10162555724423291_7601275615111799327_n
465783398_10162555724108291_8717019103276865917_n
465912132_10162555723548291_5029133679674107051_n
465984224_10162555724043291_1216050536880842469_n
466039271_10162555724688291_7108556054060419524_n
466071066_10162555723808291_3623645699549092144_n
466092144_10162567702148291_5360511562261529263_n
466155283_10162555767618291_8350883671197212596_n
Next I tore down both the tripod, and the transit, to every single part, for cleaning, polishing, and painting. This was a few weeks of solid work!
467323902_10162579444423291_1888505433913401079_n
466922002_10162579444303291_3139059366469547548_n
466967815_10162579444298291_5359357414644105310_n
467151767_10162579444168291_8054321493465774567_n
467156120_10162579444328291_3556265566074767367_n
466909796_10162579444123291_7738571435487381689_n
467172100_10162579444043291_9016149782304629316_n
466978528_10162579444033291_7369487488484389159_n
466977732_10162579443968291_8309012085410706238_n
467146395_10162579443903291_2381293817241490378_n
467108212_10162579443873291_8318078982693532756_n
466976207_10162579443818291_7246760759485545408_n
466800490_10162579443753291_8253200149795652338_n
467332768_10162579443748291_771379582217066084_n
467148022_10162579443653291_3077237405301609076_n
467011399_10162579443593291_4117732185236569736_n
467238563_10162579443538291_7676562125555669861_n
467034855_10162579443533291_4170226597935045078_n
467323978_10162579443463291_2127954062844580568_n
466972438_10162579443308291_3638001467598601315_n
467011436_10162579443233291_5731462429353191338_n
466963127_10162579443183291_129651142910310161_n
466932608_10162579443153291_9097233852845936875_n
467293279_10162579443088291_4124343537384108925_n
466974768_10162579443033291_5763269604300285108_n
466968835_10162579443038291_1436366510594008311_n
466920916_10162579442958291_2286595201019396037_n
467316589_10162579442878291_5800764774056289786_n
467150495_10162579442798291_722225291947191951_n
467328281_10162579442773291_3839052045154001989_n
466965538_10162579442733291_406325898122792605_n
467011710_10162579442658291_5383556141475542897_n
466861743_10162579442638291_6023332570424220685_n
467026291_10162579442588291_5657125577399682351_n
467323994_10162579442508291_6697306554259062615_n
467153308_10162579442493291_8368666313499600184_n
466927863_10162579442458291_6086614865838017684_n
466975955_10162579442363291_1937718517947250576_n
466978711_10162579442338291_978701803423373274_n
467234086_10162579442303291_4659538289868718182_n
467149886_10162579442218291_7865355316822734287_n
467187988_10162579442158291_854086580742855771_n
467147068_10162579442083291_6245744268582668430_n
467314207_10162579441993291_2637693332833954943_n
467311033_10162579442078291_1516305374061774891_n
467011421_10162579441948291_4943551188454434502_n
466964083_10162579441888291_8326105162075856305_n
467173698_10162579441833291_3051342094726521351_n
467016380_10162579441828291_3863606080188354543_n
466969515_10162579441748291_8223456792392698185_n
466976181_10162579441678291_4721651970840328457_n
467008810_10162579441683291_3736905232780289574_n
467123036_10162579441623291_5324999600798225734_n
467151233_10162579441548291_5265345713292868768_n
466972390_10162579441518291_4140082338599055272_n
467122483_10162579441418291_3196831868259288357_n
467153735_10162579441348291_6139019814028724547_n
467312934_10162579441288291_2733207864181424973_n
467150048_10162579441183291_6022864096864463177_n
466800490_10162579441193291_4888316700526303842_n
467183665_10162579441058291_4610210112631734032_n
467173739_10162579441038291_4456746517626701227_n
It was hard not leaving it with the Brass and Bronze look, but wanted to be authentic to the original designers, so painted the Bronze parts black as intended.
Here is a Video from before the restoration.
And here is it all finished! Wow! Did it turn out incredable.
466974512_10162576400393291_3313612616152217985_n
467156916_10162576400128291_1663429602267208717_n
466989830_10162576398493291_8368398842683371746_n
466936748_10162576400058291_8860569434853202052_n
466934784_10162576399668291_3405947573828566199_n
467113211_10162576398388291_8856993365492335386_n
466799748_10162576399398291_595210995110487917_n
466964394_10162576399188291_2696733480060701110_n
466919350_10162576398313291_6715909118513364665_n
466968321_10162576398903291_6734045436352021587_n
467188100_10162576398133291_8335370401810446759_n
466924833_10162576400908291_2975186867410401171_n
467147488_10162576400828291_7330559689218600513_n
466738146_10162576400673291_6941745500396232723_n
466976167_10162576400628291_2558891297545233969_n
466729031_10162576400388291_2022969861826179385_n
467012136_10162576400063291_8286820762954328185_n
466965587_10162576399953291_2343301108735926_n
466936717_10162576399738291_6479983505730541104_n
467154797_10162576399133291_2150078425102194849_n
466831892_10162576400768291_8947650422514158012_n
466901340_10162576400773291_2551865770398990727_n
466981892_10162576399233291_7265012469478948853_n
466954469_10162576400483291_1366059557202990684_n
467160163_10162576398983291_1461765818379342595_n
466800590_10162576400313291_1462122235733117103_n
466577384_10162576400373291_141129121473526404_n
467050830_10162576399948291_1509175385345719420_n
467150656_10162576398258291_3027995281630821311_n
466741738_10162576398378291_584325816793664650_n
466927060_10162576398373291_881993776759176164_n
466939342_10162576398278291_7078522506293483946_n
467011242_10162576398048291_1443329775223359573_n
466956833_10162576399788291_3276878891522492236_n
466976150_10162576399838291_7935393220317025053_n
466927334_10162576399353291_1593445260628090702_n
467113187_10162576399393291_2628632287389497409_n
467231193_10162576399288291_8297102110319506250_n
467182576_10162576398633291_2568090237609940773_n
466917728_10162576398668291_4065088937031320781_n
467146809_10162576398653291_8797473641029671161_n
467011868_10162576397943291_942287238791044555_n
466975687_10162576397953291_8917136183971442290_n
466996117_10162576397978291_8867196933410193838_n
And a video explaining everything.
Now that I had it all completed, it needed something…
467048349_10162576400053291_6420878062649670798_n
467188139_10162576400023291_7475491042259512437_n
466741488_10162576398683291_5740119584208601462_n
466969139_10162576400323291_132815713498409084_n
466965288_10162576399703291_448013080643741859_n
466995816_10162576400718291_4062122488479856524_n
466916800_10162576399008291_8437411155146698412_n
466978128_10162576398743291_6584913109316158776_n
467149678_10162576399548291_4457731162454165561_n
466966327_10162576399608291_7205010942541064985_n
466874376_10162576398853291_8942484967382690560_n
It needed a box for transport! For these always had a nice wooden transport box, for all the bit and ‘bob’s needed for operation.. more on that pun later ha!
My late step Grandfather was a civil engineer, and had this old box he used to keep all his survey gear in.
467735663_10162620848328291_9148342863220635497_n
467752700_10162620848278291_1603620014002755887_n
So I took the box, and removed all the old hardware, and set out to sanding it all down and patching all the nicks and chunks from years of use.
467629626_10162590739573291_7774895738037655898_n
466973100_10162590739513291_7367849670714938085_n
466770970_10162590711183291_5908693624193222954_n
466768249_10162590710993291_6934963702790377713_n
467254089_10162590710848291_2430828928616436699_n
I cut White oak blocks to make mounts for the transit, and it looks like it has always been there! Now to prep and stain it, plus some new hardware is in order!
Now to place everything into the box, and mount the plum-bob from the center of the transit, like it would have been used. The Plumb-bob was also from my late step grandfather. I love how this all looks as a complete setup now!
467855268_10162641484143291_8759369569771664907_n
467842060_10162641482958291_5377099413346072599_n
Item of NOTE: I know almost nothing about surveying and the tools, so if I have anything incorrect in here, please correct me below in the comments. I would love to know more!