Sieler Industry Company

[gregdunlap]

I was asked by a friend of mine who does not own a computer to find out if the instrument he has, has any value.

It's a Seiler Industry Company Survey Transit, the old scope type, with tripod and sighting stick (I'm probably not calling it by it's proper term and I do apologize) It has an serial number of 10564 on it. If anyone could get back to me if he has a K-Mart or Nostrum's instrument here, I'd appreciate it.

[E_Page]

The folks at California Surveying & Drafting in Sacramento might be able to help you. The owner has quite a few antique instruments on display and one of the technicians (if he hasn't yet retired) works on older instruments from time to time.

[Bruce Gandelman]

It just so happens that a good friend of mine is Tom Seiler from Seiler Instrument. I asked him about your instrument with the minimal information provided. (serial number only) Here is his reply:

"The Seiler Transits or levels are not worth a lot. Maybe 100-250 dollars. WE made 18 inch and 12 inch dumpy levels and a 2050 transit level that was pretty good. We even made a few full transits. Those I would be more interested in. the levels and transit levels are not very rare or collectable".

If you bring your instrument to our office on Auburn Blvd, we'll be glad to take a look at it and see if there is much value. Most of the instruments that Seiler made were under contract for the US Army. The ones I've seen are drab green and not real 'pretty'. The biggest use for older instruments...If they are nice, with lots of brass etc...is on a shelf for show. The old green instruments don't usually meet that requirement. Drop by and we can take a look.