Loosen the main horizontal clamp lever and remove the upper central retaining nut situated at the center base of the alidade casting.
For surveyors, collectors, and instrument technicians, the vintage Hilger & Watts theodolite represents a pinnacle of mid-20th-century optical and mechanical engineering. Manufactured in London, these robust instruments were built to achieve arc-second accuracy under grueling field conditions.
Remove the protective side-cover plates over the vertical circle casing.
Clean the internal and external screw threads using a stiff nylon brush soaked in mineral spirits. hilger watts theodolite manual repack
) to soften the old lacquer grease until the inner spindle slides out.
Carefully draw the central vertical spindle out of its housing. This is a clearance-fit component machined to tolerances within microns. Pull it straight out without rocking or tilting it to prevent scoring the bearing surfaces. 4. Cleaning Protocol and Removing Degraded Grease
Fasten any canvas or leather buckle straps across the top standards. Loosen the main horizontal clamp lever and remove
Proper lubrication gives the theodolite its signature "hydraulic" feel.
: High-quality parallel-ground slot (hollow-ground) jewelers' screwdrivers. Standard tapered screwdrivers will slip and permanently burr the soft brass and bronze screws used throughout the chassis.
: A standard storing case is approximately 11.8 inches (30 cm) high and 8.26 inches (21 cm) wide. ANTIGUEDADES.ES Hilger & Watts Microptic manual for more technical maintenance? Antique Theodolite Hilger & Watts, 1968 - ANTIGUEDADES.ES Remove the protective side-cover plates over the vertical
HilgerWatts_[ModelNumber]_Repack/ ├── 01_Operators_Manual.pdf ├── 02_Calibration_Sheets.pdf ├── 03_Parts_List_Exploded/ │ ├── Fig12_Lower_Plate.png │ └── Fig14_Micrometer_Assembly.png ├── 04_Field_Notes_Modern.pdf └── REPACK_MANIFEST.txt
Companies like Vintage Surveying Instruments (UK) or Instrument Resources (USA) offer paid repacks. For $35–$75 USD, you receive:
You will need high-quality watchmaker's screwdrivers, a magnifying glass, and potentially a "pin wrench" for specific Hilger & Watts retaining rings.