Hilger Watts Theodolite Manual Portable Jun 2026

A Hilger & Watts theodolite is a delicate instrument. Proper care, as outlined in the manual, ensures a long life:

Set the tripod legs firmly into the ground over the station mark. Keep the tripod head as level as possible visually.

The "Microptic" manual’s greatest secret was the . Unlike older models with external verniers, the Hilger & Watts allowed you to read both the elevation and azimuth circles through a single eyepiece on the side. hilger watts theodolite manual

If the crosshair is not perfectly centered over the ground mark, slightly loosen the central tripod fixing screw.

Use the legs of the tripod to place the optical plummet roughly over the ground point. A Hilger & Watts theodolite is a delicate instrument

Place the tripod over the survey point. Press the tripod shoes firmly into the ground. The tripod head should be roughly eye-level and as level as possible by eye.

Institutions such as the Smithsonian have digitized catalogs and related documentation regarding Hilger & Watts 1950s instruments. The "Microptic" manual’s greatest secret was the

Carefully lift the theodolite from its wooden or metal transit case by its frame (never by the telescope barrel).

: Using the three brass foot-screws—part of the "trivet" assembly—you’d bring the spirit level to rest. A true surveyor could do this blindfolded, feeling the slight resistance of the screws as the instrument found its true horizontal. 3. The Magic of the Microptic

Built to withstand harsh field environments while maintaining sub-arc-second precision.