Hilger Watts Theodolite Manual |verified| Jun 2026

Let’s assume you have obtained a for your Microptic T2. Here is a typical calibration workflow drawn directly from the manual’s text:

Operating a vintage optical theodolite requires a methodical approach to eliminate instrumental errors. Step 1: Setting Up and Rough Leveling

“Do not use conventional oils on the spindles. Only a micro-drop of clockmaker’s oil (grade 2) is permissible, applied once every five years.” Many classic theodolites have been ruined by WD-40 or motor oil.

Resilient brass and aluminum alloy housings built to withstand extreme field conditions. hilger watts theodolite manual

Secure the instrument to the tripod head using the central fixing screw.

According to standard theodolite operating guides 0;52;, successful measurement requires a specific setup sequence: 0;265;0;418;

Look at the lower micrometer window to read the remaining single minutes and exact seconds. Add the values together (e.g., Main Scale: , Micrometer: 6. Field Adjustments and Maintenance Let’s assume you have obtained a for your Microptic T2

was a British optical instrument manufacturer formed in 1948 from the merger of Adam Hilger Ltd (spectroscopic instruments) and E.R. Watts & Son (surveying and optical instruments). Based in London, they became renowned for producing some of the most precise surveying instruments of the 20th century.

to align the etched scale lines before taking a final reading in degrees, minutes, and seconds. Maintenance and Care Microptic transit theodolite, 1954

Place it onto the tripod head and engage the central fixing screw from underneath. Tighten it firmly but do not overtighten. Step 3: Leveling the Plate Bubbles Only a micro-drop of clockmaker’s oil (grade 2)

Look through the and shift the tripod legs until the crosshairs are centered roughly over your ground mark. Step 3: Precise Leveling (The Three-Screw Method)

Fine-adjustment screws used to precisely align the crosshairs onto a target after the main horizontal or vertical clamps have been locked.

The manual is divided into several sections, each covering a specific aspect of the instrument:

High-contrast, inverted or erect telescope images featuring crisp reticles.