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A wonderful professional surveyor / Gunter chain 22 yards in length with all the links intact and with brass handles and with all 9 individual brass tally tags; circa 1880.
We are pleased to be able to offer this fine and highly collectable land surveyor’s chain. It consists of 100 individual links connected by oval iron rings, all 9 large brass tally tags (every 10 links) - each shaped to indicate partial chain measurements, and two brass handles, both unmarked. The center tally tag has no makes mark either. This chain measures 66 feet in length which equals 4 ‘poles’ or ‘1 chain’. 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. Early 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.
I do not know the maker of this chain and it is possible it was made in America. The tally tags are unusual because of their large size (see photos provided). This surveyor / Gunter chain is completely genuine and in untouched original condition. As you can see in the photos provided, this is a great surveyors chain in good complete condition - there is some surface rust and insignificant lightpitting of the steel surface. 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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