If you need a high-quality telescopic marine alidade, the team at Warren Knight can help. But before we talk about our own amazing alidade, we wanted to share some fun facts about alidades and how they’ve been used throughout history.
1. Alidades Can Be Used For Surveying
If you are a surveyor, an alidade can be a helpful instrument. An alidade can be used for plane table surveying, which is a fast and efficient type of surveying where the surveyor is able to plot and make observations in the field.
It requires the use of a plane table, which is basically a sturdy board and alidade with a spirit or bubble level. You mount the board to a high-quality tripod (we have several options) and ensure that the board is level before beginning your work.
This method of surveying isn’t as accurate as using a theodolite, but it’s certainly less expensive than purchasing a theodolite or a total station. Although you certainly can rent theodolites and total stations from Warren Knight if you need one but don’t wish to purchase these items outright.
2. Alidades Can Be Used For Navigation
Our own Warren Knight alidade is meant to be used for navigational purposes, such as on a large naval vessel or commercial vessel. For navigation, the alidade is used to take bearings. You might be trying to determine direction or perhaps you are trying to determine your location. A navigator also might be trying to study an object in the distance, such as another ship. You might need to determine how far away the ship is or perhaps the distance between your own vessel and a landmark.
While many electronic devices can be useful for navigation, it’s still essential for captains to stock their ships with devices that require no power, such as the alidade, a compass and a sextant. You never know when you might lose power, and being able to use non-electronic devices is a crucial skill, even for hobby boaters.
3. Alidades Often Were Used For Astronomy
When it comes to navigation, sailors have used the sky to help them determine location and direction for centuries. But, of course, early astronomers first had to study the night sky and create these star maps that sailors could use on their journeys.
Early astronomers used crude versions of an alidade to create these maps. Of course, these alidades certainly look much different than the more complicated devices we use today. These were simple small handheld sticks with a sighting slot, there was no telescope or compass or Vernier on the alidade. Nonetheless, early astronomers created some fairly accurate maps using this method.
4. Alidades Are Used For Mapmaking
The telescopic alidade has long been used for mapmaking, although it certainly is less frequently used today. During the 19th century, however, it was one of the most common cartography tools. Alidades are particularly useful for the creation of topographic maps, which are maps that show the surface of the earth, most importantly, the differences in elevation in a given area. While other precision instruments are more commonly used today, a hobby cartographer might enjoy grabbing an antique alidade and studying a specific area to create their own maps.
The Warren Knight Alidade
Our WK-13-7500 Telescopic Marine Alidade is a sturdy, high-quality alidade that can handle tough environments. It’s meant to be mounted onto a compass or gyrocompass indicator, its nitrogen-purged main housing consists of a reticle-equipped, terrestrial telescope for viewing distant objects. It also features an auxiliary optical system for viewing the compass card and the bubble in the vial level.
At Warren Knight, we’ve been creating quality alidades, surveying equipment, theodolites, clinometers and other precision instruments for more than 100 years. Back in 1908, the year we were founded, the first Model T automobile was produced by Ford Motor Company, the first passenger flight took off from St. Petersburg, Florida, and construction of the Titanic began in Ireland.
While much has changed, our commitment to quality remains the same as it has for more than 100 years. If our stock marine alidade isn’t quite what you need, give us a call as we probably can provide you with a custom design that meets your needs.