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A wonderful condition surveyor / Gunter chain 22 yards with all the links intact and with brass handles and with all 9 individual brass tally tags; circa 1910
We are please to be able to offer this fine Chesterman land surveyor’s chain. It consists of 100 individual links connected by iron rings, all 9 brass tally tags (every 10 feet) - each shaped to indicate partial chain measurements, and two squared off (not round) shaped brass handles, each inscribed ‘1 CHAIN’. The center tally tag is marked CHESTERMAN SHEFFIELD ENGLAND. There is a swivel in the center of the chain (see last photo). This chain measures 66 feet in length which equals 4 ‘poles’. 66 foot chains are also called ‘Gunter’s chains’. Edwin Gunter of England initiated its common use for measuring land boundaries in the early 1600s. Land survey records in the American colonies were also recorded in ‘chains’. 1 chain by 10 chains = 1 acre. One mile = 80 chains. The use of the 66 foot chain was confined chiefly for land surveying because of its relationship with the acre.
This surveyor / Gunter chain is completely genuine and in untouched original condition. What is different about this chain and not commonly seen is the galvanized surface over the heavy gauge steel links. I doubt this influences dating because putting a protective zinc coating over iron and steel has been a practice over 300 years. This chain probably was more expensive than plain steel chains as the zinc coating prevents rust.
As you can see in the photos provided, this is a great surveyors chain in fantastic condition - they don’t get any better. We are selling this historically fascinating Gunter chain WITHOUT RESERVE - so good luck if you are a discriminating collector or land surveyor.
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