Bidspirit auction | Bausch & Lomb Transit Serial

Bausch & Lomb Transit Serial No. 11309 - This ”Municipal” Model 063 transit, bearing Serial Number 11309, is a remarkable specimen from the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company of Rochester, NY, manufactured circa 1914–1916. This era represents the ”Triple Alliance” period, a prestigious collaboration between Bausch & Lomb, George N. Saegmuller, and the Zeiss Works of Germany. This specific unit features a 6.25” horizontal limb graduated to read to 30” and a 5” vertical arc, housed in a robust black-and-brass frame designed for the precision required in municipal engineering and urban surveying. The ”Triple Alliance” logo on the compass face signifies the integration of Zeiss’s superior optical designs with Saegmuller’s precision engineering. Records suggest that by 1917, Bausch & Lomb shifted almost exclusively to military production for WWI, making these late-model civilian transits highly collectible. The brass telescope and compass housing show a natural aged patina with some surface oxidation, while the black-finished structural components exhibit honest wear and paint loss from historical field use. All spirit levels and glass components remain intact, though the instrument is currently missing its original mahogany carrying case. H 14.5”, W 12”, D 8” Please see photos for condition. From the Dale Beeks collection.