Whitescarver Trigonometer Made Circa 1850

The Whitescarver Trigonometer is a more evolved form of the Danner Trigonometer, and relies on both the Whiteley and Benton Patents. There are a number of instruments of this form known, and with one exception there are no markings other than a number on the underside. The exception is marked “Whitescarver’s patent”. There is no U. S. patent issued in Whitescarver’s name for any form of a surveying instrument but in the early 1840’s Whitescarver acquired the rights to both the Whiteley and Benton patents (National Archives RG 241 Digest of Assignments) and was actively trying to market these rights in the mid 1840’s. I note that a patent extension was apparently rejected in 1859 (see pic below).

I’ve seen several references suggesting that Whitescarver had a Confederate States of America patent as well, but I haven’t found the authority supporting that claim. Perhaps when the U.S. denied the patent extension in 1859, Whitescarver applied for a confederate patent thereafter. Note that the Whitescarver sold on Skinner has "Whitescarver Patent” engraved on it, and the serial number is very late (#200).

The main difference between a Danner and a Shitescarver Trigonometer - The Whitescarver has a vernier on the arm that swings. If you look at the arm that swings (the top arm in the pic above), you will see that it has a vernier that extends past the arm on the lower side of the arm. That’s one key tell for a Whitescarver Trigonometer (compared to the Danner Trigonometry). The Whitecsarver also has the level on the top arm that runs perpendicular to the arm.

I am aware of a number of Whitescarver Trigonometers. Dale Beeks sold a really nice Whitescarver on eBay for $6900 in 2004 - See the listing here. Seven years earlier Skinner sold a Whitescarver for $1840 (see attached PDF). In 2015 a rather unsightly Whitescarver sold for $1250 on eBay - See that one here. In addition to those, Smart’s book also has a pic of a Whitescarver in the Whiteley bio area - see pic attached below.