Jovial June

[tokuno]

Great explanation, Mr. Surveyor, but . . . assuming her fella's needle always points north, at least when he's taking a reading . . . I don't get the whole needle-to-body alignment to get an east or west reading on that particular compass body . . . do they cover that in upper-div surveyor school, or is that something the apprentices pick up in field work?

Yeah, the whole surveying instrument thing is pretty darned interesting. That chick is either a surveyor herself, married to a surveyor or trying to bait one of us wonderful, studly surveyors into a ron-dee-voo
jd

[mr surveyor]

It's hard to imagine without the floating compass needle, just visualize a magnetized compass needle sitting on an axle centered above the "compass rose". Then visualize yourself holding the compass (somewhat level) and have the body of the compass pointed the "right" of North .... the compass needle will still be pointing North but the compass rose will be rotated such the "North" end of the needle will appear to be in the quadrant of the compass rose marked with the "N" and the "E" ... you will be facing the North East. If you turn and point the compass body in a Southerly direction (Southeast or Southwest) the South end of the needle would be what you read.

Compass reading can be really affected by exterior magnetic attractions, not only whatever ferrous metal objects you may have on your person, but also fences, tools, vehicles, etc. ... but also can be affected by such stuff as iron ore rock in the immediate vicinity. We do have that here in my neck of NE Texas. Surveyors no longer depend on magnetic compass instruments for their survey projects, but they are still handy when doing preliminary recon. Still really useful tools, after several centuries.

Oh, to make it even more complicated - Magnetic North isn't True Polar North ... the magnetic pole of the Earth is quite a ways South (Southeast as viewed from my location) so available certain charts (Isogonic charts) need to be referred to calibrate the compass for your location for accurate (respectively speaking) measurements to be made. Also, over time the magnetic pole "wanders" so that also has to be taken into account when trying to make relatively accurate, reproducible measurements.

jd

[jeepster09]

Here is a more in depth explanation...

https://youtu.be/nY5WjIvyEXo

[mr surveyor]

Wow, I got it .... actually hooked by the "billable hours" and "cigarette lighter" (don't smoke, but I miss them) references.

I'm now an officially retired land surveyor, so ....

Git off my lawn ...

jd

[getsome]

https://youtube.com/shorts/iVfUpWzMYIE?feature=share


Robin Williams knew FJB

Yep……Robin Williams was a genius comedian albeit somewhat crazy but he and Richard Pryor set the bar and both are greatly missed……......We need to laugh more in this crazy world……RIP

[tokuno]

Apologies, I should've added a laugh emoticon to the end.
I quite understand the use of an actual surveyor's compass.
I thought my veiled reference to "her fella's 'needle'" and the implication that there's no available means to procure an east or west heading . . . um, on second thought, never mind :-)

It's hard to imagine without the floating compass needle, just visualize a magnetized compass needle sitting on an axle centered above the "compass rose". Then visualize yourself holding the compass (somewhat level) and have the body of the compass pointed the "right" of North .... the compass needle will still be pointing North but the compass rose will be rotated such the "North" end of the needle will appear to be in the quadrant of the compass rose marked with the "N" and the "E" ... you will be facing the North East. If you turn and point the compass body in a Southerly direction (Southeast or Southwest) the South end of the needle would be what you read.

[mr surveyor]

Apologies, I should've added a laugh emoticon to the end.
I quite understand the use of an actual surveyor's compass.
I thought my veiled reference to "her fella's 'needle'" and the implication that there's no available means to procure an east or west heading . . . um, on second thought, never mind :-)

Naah, you sure don't need to apologize .... I'm glad you are versed in the surveyor's compass. I just get carried away sometimes wanting to educate the unknowing folks about the intricacies of the surveying world. After 40 years in private practice, I had to retire a couple of months ago .... and it's been hard to give it up.

jd

[340pd]

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[340pd]

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[Armybrat]

Loved Shakey's. The had Little Rascals and Laurel and Hardy, and old timey mechanical nickel games.

Took my future bride there for our first date 30 December, 1966. Pitcher beer and a singalong piano player.
Proposed to her two weeks later, then married on 10 June, 1967.
56 years yesterday.
Guess she’s a keeper.