Transit theodolite used at Sydney Observatory
Object No. H10062
Theodolites have been used to measure horizontal and vertical angles by surveyors since the 1500s. They allow a surveyor to fix a position on the surface of the earth, marking latitude, longitude, and height above sea level, and then map out roads, towns, and plots of land. Transit theodolites first appeared in the 1840s, the term transit indicates that the telescope can be rotated about the horizontal axis pivoting through 180 degrees and allowing the viewer to easily see both forwards and backwards through the instrument. By 1868 they had become a "favourite instrument" of surveyors , and in the 21st century they are still used in a modern form. The manual method of reading the theodolite has been superseded by automatic reading, and the body of the instrument has become more compact and lighter. With rapid urban expansion, one of the most important needs of the new colony was to survey and map the landscape of both Sydney, and the Colony's interior. Theodolites, such as this one, were instrumental to the colony's surveyors, and would have played an important part in their everyday work. This theodolite was made by Troughton and Simms, who were significant scientific instrument makers of the 19th century. The Museum has other sizes of Troughton and Simms theodolites in the collection, as well as other instruments such as telescopes. This transit theodolite remains of national significance due to its pioneering role in Australian science and its association with Australia's earliest surveyors and astronomers. It is also significant for its association with nineteenth century surveying instruments and instrument makers. Reference: J. A. Bennett, The Divided Circle, Christies Pty, 1987 pg 90 W. D. Haskoll, Land and Marine Surveyors, London, 1868, pg 81. J. A. Bennet and O. Brown, The [Compleat] Surveyor, The Whipple Museum of the History of science, 1982. pg 17 Written by Erika Dicker, Assistant Curator, November 2007.
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Summary
Object Statement
Transit theodolite with accessories and case, surveyors 6 inch, timber / metal / glass / textile / paper, by Troughton & Simms, London, England, 1860-1915, used at Sydney Observatory, New South Wales, Australia, 1890-1931
Physical Description
Transit theodolite with accessories and case, surveyors 6 inch, metal / glass / wood, made by Troughton & Simms, London, England, 1860-1915, used at Sydney Observatory, New South Wales, Australia, 1890-1931 A 6" transit theodolite with attachments including a telescope, three legged metal stand, a spirit level, a lamp and lamp stand, a trough compass, plumb bob, lenses, a small filter, a brass pin and a hook contained in a wooden box with a hinged lid. There is also a tripod for the transit theodolite. Observatory stock number 248.
PRODUCTION
Notes
The transit theodolite was made by Troughton and Simms in London, England between 1860 and 1915. In 1782 John Troughton purchased Benjamin Cole's shop in Fleet Street, London enabling him to sell his own signed products. His instrument making business supported several dynasties of Troughton's before becoming Troughton and Simms and later still Cooke Troughton & Simms. This firm was one of the most well respected firms of instrument makers of the 1800s. While his brother enjoyed some early success the business really expanded once Edward Troughton (1756-1835) took over the business in 1807. Edward and his brother John were both designers and manufacturers of instruments and the quality of their work won them contracts with the leading Government bodies of the time. These included The Royal Society, the Greenwich Royal observatory, the Board of Longitude, the Board of Ordinance and the East India Company. One of the main factors in the success of the business was the use of a dividing engine which could speed up the labourious process of marking the small divisions of measurement necessary for scientific instruments. This machine was based on that designed by Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800) which had won a prize from the British Board of Longitude in 1775. As a result of this the Board of Longitude was allowed to instruct Ramsden to allow up to ten other instrument makers to copy his machine. One of these was John Troughton and the new machines established both Ramsden's and Troughton's reputations. The dividing engine speeded up both accuracy and production and rather than spending 12 weeks, six days a week and eight hours a day graduating two meridian circles this machine enabled the same job to be completed in around 10 hours. The workshop produced a broad range of instruments from large telescopes and theodolites through to smaller mathematical instruments. Before 1835 most of the optics appear to have been supplied by Dollond as Edward Troughton was reputed to be colour blind. It is also important to note that from the early years the precision engineering of castings and turnings of their instruments were mainly outsourced to Maudslay Field & Donkin or Ransome's & May. One of Edward Troughton's apprentices William Simms was taken into partnership in 1826 and after Edward died in 1835 Simms became the manager of the establishment and company became Troughton & Simms. Under Simms the company continued to expand and produced instruments for Britain and her colonies as well as for markets in Europe and America. When William Simms died in 1860 the estate was worth around £80,000. The company was next managed by William Simms (junior) and his cousin James who carried the firm into the industrial age. The 1860s they moved the company from Fleet Street to two acres of land at Charlton on Woolwich Road and by 1866 the factory employed 61 men and 20 boys. For the 1874 transit Troughton & Simms made only five transits and four portable azimuths but did refurbish some older telescopes lent for the occasion. Telescopes and transits of the period they were often hybrids with the structure ordered from Grubb's or Troughton & Simms with lenses from Cooke. However by 1887 the company was able to produce all the parts necessary for their instruments and the company employed nearly 200 people. James Simms died in 1915 and the company was turned into a limited liability company by his two sons William and James. Things however were not so easy for the two sons and in 1922 the business was brought out by their rival T Cooke & Sons becoming Cooke, Troughton & Simms. References Todd, David, P., Stars and Telescopes, Sampson Low, Marston, and Co., 1900 Chaldecott, J., 'Printed Ephemera of Some Nineteenth Century Instrument Makers', in Blondel, C., Parot, F., Turner, A., Williams, M., (eds), Studies in the History of Scientific Instruments, Rogers Turner Books, London, 1989 King, H., C., The History of the Telescope, Dover Publications, New York, 1955 McConnell, A., Instrument Makers to the World; a History of Cooke, Troughton and Simms, William Sessions, York, England, 1992
HISTORY
Notes
This transit theodolite was used at Sydney Observatory, Watson Road, Observatory Hill, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, between 1890 and 1931
SOURCE
Credit Line
Ex Sydney Observatory, 1983
Acquisition Date
13 December 1983
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