Practical Surveyor [Paperback]

Samuel Wyld (Author), David Manthey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001

"In this small tract you'll find the whole Art of Surveying Land epitomized. The rules and methods here laid down in a plain and familiar manner, such as are fittest for a Practioner's use, without an unecessary mixture of useless curiosities and needless repitition. And although brevity be chiefly intended, yet nothing is here omitted, but what might be well enough be spared in a treatise that immediately relates to the Practice."

Editorial Reviews

Review

Manthey's mathematical analysis of Wyld's survey computations is excellent. His explanation of Wyld's terminology is also very good. -- Professional Surveyor Magazine

From the Publisher

Samuel Wyld's classic tract on surveying was originally published in 1725. It ran through 7 editions over the course of 55 years and was widely distributed in England and America.

This reprint of the classic 1st edition includes comments by noted scholar David Manthey on the accuracy and methods used by Wyld, as well as updated astronomical tables, a summary of surveying instruments, and a lexicon.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Invisible College Press (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931468060
• ISBN-13: 978-1931468060
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #272,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A historical and useful manual on surveying, February 8, 2002

By 

David Manthey (Troy, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Practical Surveyor (Paperback)

In reading historical surveying works, the Practical Surveyor stands out as an useful guide and not a theoretical textbook. Although there is a slight amount of geometry in the beginning of the book, the bulk of the work relies
on basic math, without even the use of sines and cosines. Likewise, although a variety of surveying instruments are detailed, there are complete instructions for surveying with a chain only (which would work equally well with a measuring tape).

Modern electronic instruments have largely replaced old tools, and modern computers allow vastly more measurements to be used for improved precision and accuracy. While The Practical Surveyor won't supercede hiring a professional land surveyor, it is sufficient to teach a novice to confidently survey any plot of land.

The techniques for measuring with plane table, theodolite, or cirumferentor (staff compass) are as valid today as they were in 1725. Once measurements have been made, there are clear directions for drawing a map and calculating areas and other properties. An example is provided of a survey of a small farm, complete with field notes, a field book with all of the measurements, and a finished map.

Additional sections detail determining the difference in altitude between two locations, finding true north using either the sun or Polaris, coloring maps using watercolors with details on the specific pigment materials, surveying rivers and large towns, dividing land, and drawing perspective pictures with the aid of a theodolite. Mr. Wyld prefaces the work with a lively introduction.

The text is identical to the 1725 first edition. It has been re-typeset for clarity using the original font, spelling, and punctuation. The long s (which looks like an 'f' to modern readers) is used as per the original. The book includes reproductions of the original figures from six copperplates, all of the original advertisements, and all of the original woodcut illustrations.

I have written brief notes to accompany the text. These are all at the back of the volume so as not to interfere with the original work. The notes include a few corrections to some errors in the book, a list of all of the tools and instruments used, and a glossary of words. I hope that these are of use.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wyld-, February 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Practical Surveyor (Paperback)

A great book! It's just what it calls itself: A practical guide. It skips the hard math and teaches you to use the instruments (which really haven't changed, except for computerized models) and draw maps. This isn't only quick-and-dirty surveying. You will learn to compensate for the curvature of the earth, find your position by the stars, convey water, draw objects in perspective...

Also gives historical insight into how and why land was used and subdivided, and rules of thumb that still affect modern land (why are roads and ditches the width they are? How are property boundaries placed, or re-discovered?)

If you want to learn to survey or are interested in historic land use, map-making or surveying, you need this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not For Everyone - A Valuable Historical Sourcework, October 24, 2008

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Practical Surveyor (Paperback)

"The Practical Surveyor" by Samuel Wyld might best be thought of as the Practical Surveying for Dummies of it's time. Wyld writes in his preface that "[I]n Handling this, I have not chose the most Accurate Method I could think of, but rather the most Plain and Simple, as being most Agreeable to the Conception of a Stranger to the Art, to whom nothing can be too plain." Which is to say that the book is a hands-on guide for laymen and not a formal textbook for would-be professionals.

This volume comes to us essentially as Wyld intended. The contributing editor, David Manthey's idea was to preserve the book with all of it's original character. He writes: The text is identical to the 1725 first edition. It has been re-typeset for clarity using the original font, spelling, and punctuation. The long-S (which looks like an 'f' to modern readers) is used as per the original. The book includes reproductions of the original figures from six copperplates, all of the original advertisements, and all of the original woodcut illustrations.

Written in archaic language, and about an arcane topic, this book won't be for many people. It remains, however, an important work, especially considering how few original copies remain. And this accounts for it's star rating.

Pam T.
mom and reviewer for PageInHistory.com