18th century colonial surveying instruments were works of art in their own right. The beauty of the sometimes naïve engraving style, combined with the hand craftsmanship of the divided circle and the needle construction, stand apart from European instruments of the same period.   Colonial Instruments properly restores the functionality, as well as the original beauty, of these instruments. When one component is improperly replaced or missing, it diminishes the entire piece. The patination of the replacement pieces is necessary to aesthetically and seamlessly blend the replaced items with the original to create a homogenous whole.   Restoration in this field has normally been carried out in one of two manners. In the first case the restored pieces are left in shiny brass, waiting for time to age them to match the original. These replacement pieces are never signed or dated with the rationalization that the new brass makes it obvious that they are replaced pieces. Over the decades though, as the brass ages, the blatant discrepancy between the old and new brass will blur and no longer present an obvious distinction.

The second case deals with quality restoration without representation. Restoration completed in such a manner as to be virtually indistinguishable from the original, becomes an historical and ethical dilemma if not permanently labeled as such. We sign and date all large, replaced pieces.   Many surveying instruments, due to the environment in which they were used, have degenerated from their original form. Many compasses, for example, have much newer needles than they were originally supplied with. A surveying compass from 1770, with a needle from a transit of the late 19th century, is historically misleading as well as offensive in appearance. To this end we supply replacement needles matched to the proper period. Sight vanes interchanged for expediency’s sake from one damaged instrument to another, disregards the fact that most compass makers had distinct patterns for their vanes and thumbscrews.   All good restoration is time consuming. It is our intention to honor the colonial craftsman by making replacement items commensurate with the standards to which they adhered. We feel that we are carrying on the tradition of their work as if we had apprenticed with them. However, instead of having the luxury of their personal instruction, we have the priviledge of studying the mute testimony of their craftsmanship. And we enjoy every minute of it.