Hello, I am new to the world of surveying and the equipment that follows. I was given this technology from my cousin, and I am learning how to use it, super fascinating. Does anyone have an idea of how popular or useful this set up is? Do I need any more parts to make it work better, any tips for operating? And what is the overall value of this set, I am not about to find any more online about the Zeiss Elta S20 and Topcon Delta Guppy GTS-1.
I have also attached photos to this thread, thank you for your help.
Those are 2 to 3 decades old technology so you won't find many surveyors using them. Perhaps someone might have a nostalgia for them. Watch ebay sales to see what market there is on them.
That said, the Zeiss was a very capable instrument and if it is in good working condition could produce very useful measurements.
Any battery packs that have sat around a long time would need to be rebuilt.
You will need a tripod with the right mount, probably the common 5/8"-11, but I haven't checked.
To measure distances you need a reflector. For long distances that would be a corner cube prism. For playing around between a few yards to maybe 100 yards, some brands of "driveway marker" red reflectors will work. Car taillight lenses sometimes give sufficient reflection for a quick check that it is operating.
For accurate readings of angle or distance you need to need to have the reflector accurately positioned over the point of interest. Read about tribrachs and/or prism poles with a plumbing bubble.
If you have no background for this, your first purchase should be a slightly out of date (hence cheap) textbook like Wolf and Ghilani's Elementary Surveying.
Wow, Thank you, Bill! This is a very good start and now I have a plan as to using this and beginning to rebuild and collect the necessary items in this kit.
The GTS-1 "Guppy" came out in 1979, so over 40 years ago. It was the first "total station" that many surveyors my age (over 60) ever used. As Bill said, if it has any value, it is nostalgic.
Resale value is probably less than the cost of shipping anywhere, or even the petrol to get it across town.
That isnt to say that they cannot be useful tools. If they are in calibration and working, they can still produce. But, no surveyor use them without a current calibration. And, I cannot imagine anyone buying them.
If you can't power them up, then you have good 30x telescopes and not a lot more.
A detachable tribrach would sell on ebay. The Topcon cable might sell, depending on just exactly what it is.
