Buff Dumpy Level

[Boiler]

Picked up a Buff & Buff Dumpy Level for cheap at auction. Not sure why I bought it, guess I thought it looked cool.

Everything works well and its clean, guess I just need to find the right buyer for it. I'm seeing them priced between 20 and 400 dollars.

Anyone ever see these sold and able to point me to one end of that pricing spectrum or the other?

 

[Stick]

Not sure what it's worth, but for $50 I'd keep it around. A good transit can always come in handy.

 

[blue dog]

Not sure why I bought it, guess I thought it looked cool.

We have all said the same thing, i just try not to say it out loud!.
Good score.

 

[Boiler]

A good transit can always come in handy.

I think this old type is very difficult to level in comparison with modern types. There are four screws that each push down on a plate, and a ball joint in the middle. So you have to loosen one while tightening another / multiple others to tune it. Then you have to turn the level and adjust more, etc.

 

[Broncoman]

Not sure what its worth but used one very similar before, hated to drag that thing out on a project, as you said they take so long to level.

 

[Packard V8]

I think you've got an old surveyor's transit there, not a level.

jack vines

 

[Boiler]

Buff & Buff made a surveyor's transit that was very similar, except at its base it had a graduated ring to measure rotational degrees, this one does not. It is for construction type use, or leveling up a machine.

 

[sselander]

foundths page listing some Buff & Buff Dumpy Levels:

http://www.antiquesurveying.com/dumpy_levels.htm

 

[chad s]

It's beautiful! The patina on the lacquered brass is very nice.

 

[arkangel06]

Very nice piece.

 

[Boiler]

foundths page listing some Buff & Buff Dumpy Levels:

http://www.antiquesurveying.com/dumpy_levels.htm

Yes I found that page too. It is 18" long and similar ones in lesser condition were listed there for $500! I'm pretty excited right now.

I'm glad a guy at the auction who asked me for my info didn't accept my offer to sell it for $25 more than I paid on the spot...

 

[JASTECH]

I like it just for a conversation peice.

Boiler, Do you have a website for the Liberty fabrication? I am going to be trading down my RAM Diesel to a Liberty CRD for lower payments and will be looking to see what can be done to improve it's off-road ability.

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[jniolon]

Boiler,

what you have is a constuction level. it's a beautiful piece. I have a Buff&Buff surveyors transit (sorry no pic at work...will post later) Mine is about the same vintage and mfg'd around the turn of the 20th century. Beautiful old brass instrument with that sweet patina Chad mentioned. My dad bought it when he retired from the steel company in '65 and we used it for 20 years. They are quality instruments and mine is as accurate as it was 100 years ago.

AFA the leveling... it depends on your level of experience. I can set up my transit and have it leveled over a point in less than three minutes. I still have trouble trusting the auto levels... I know you can push the button to reset it but do you really know it's reset ??? those long level tubes till you at a glance.

Hold onto it... or set it up in your den on a nice old wooden tripod... it'll get folks talking... I love old surveying instruments. There are sites on the net that can give you info on value and restoration if you're interested.. you see lots of K&Es and Bergers... but the old Buffs are kinda rare.

set it up and enjoy looking at it...
john

 

[Boiler]

I like it just for a conversation peice.

Boiler, Do you have a website for the Liberty fabrication? I am going to be trading down my RAM Diesel to a Liberty CRD for lower payments and will be looking to see what can be done to improve it's off-road ability.

Thanks, JASTECH

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