Description

Watts “Quickset” Level (c.1953). Green lacquered brass. 6.5 in telescope. Black leather case with leather strap.

ER Watts & Son Ltd merged with Adam Hilger Ltd to form Hilger & Watts in 1948, but continued to produce instruments under the Watts name.

An undated Haldens of Manchester Catalogue (see references) says of the Wattts “Quickset” level:

The “Quickset” Level, like most modern levels, has a tilting telescope and a ball joint for rapid setting up. By means of this joint, used in conjunction with the circular bubble ander the eyepiece of the level the instreument is first roughly levelled and the the final adjustment is made with the slow-motion screw until the main bubble is truly horizontal.

The accuracy of the level depends solely upon the relation of the bubble to the telescope, and is not dependent upon the true verticality of the centre. Since the bubble can be viewed at the same time as the staff, by means of the bubble reading mirror, there is no possibility of error.