Bilby Towers

[Bill93]

A discussion on another forum mentions that the Surveyors Historical Society would like to acquire one. Anybody got a suggestion as to where to find one?

[monkeykat]

I saw one in Florida when I was down there for the shuttle launch a year ago. I am not sure about "acquiring" it. I believe there is another one down there somewhere too.

 

Nearby to AK0783

[tosborn]

There was this thread from May 2009 about an existing Bilby tower in Louisiana:

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=221772

[+genegene]

I found a patent for another type of what you are looking for. SURVEY INSTRUMENT TOWER/.

 

Im still looking for the blueprints for the Bilby Tower.

 

Do you have the option of building one?

[+genegene]

I sent an e-mail to Aermotor, the co designers of the towers to see if they built them or have blueprints in there files.

 

If they have some that they can share then you could build one.

[NGS Surveyor]

The USC&GS published a Manual on the Bilby Towers in 1929 and updated it in 1940. Both are on-line and the link to the 1940 version is: http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/cgs_specpu...35no1581940.pdf

 

The Manual includes instructions and photos showing how to erect a Bilby and also drawings of the parts (see page 7).

 

There are also many photos of Bilby Towers on the NOAA Photo Library's www site at: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/

 

As far as existing Bilbys, there is one in LA as mentioned (one of our field crews found it about a year ago), and there are several? at Cape Canaveral. Theses are the only standing Bilbys that I know of.

 

I know a possible source for one and will let them know that the Surveyor's Historical Society is interested.

 

As for someone obtaining parts and building one, CAUTION, it is difficult and dangerous, I would not recommend it.

 

In our mini NGS museum area here in Silver Spring MD, we have a 1/3 scale model of a Bilby. I believe it was made to use in training.

 

GeorgeL

NGS

[+genegene]

Here is a great pic of what thoes guys had to do.

 

[NGS Surveyor]

Since yesterday I have found:

- A Bill of Materials for a 103 foot Bilby Tower from Braden-Aermotor Corp, dated Nov 9, 1971;

- An Aermotor price list for Bilby Towers, dated March 1, 1970 (a 103’ foot tower cost $2985.00 and weighed 7000 pounds;

- A large Aermotor drawing of a 103’ Bilby Tower, dated 1959). The drawing is 18” by 45”.

Bilby Towers could be built at various heights (hts of the inner tower, in feet): 37, 50, 64, 77, 90, 103, and 116, (129’ was available only in the early years). The outer tower was 10 feet taller. For more information see my two on-line articles: http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/survey_towers/bilby.html and http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/magazi...by/welcome.html

 

I also have drawings of wooden towers for the following heights (feet): 4, 10, 15, 24, 32, 40, and 56).

 

GeorgeL

NGS

[Bill93]

Update: The Surveyors Historical Society has removed the Bilby tower from Louisiana and is in the process of moving it to Jasper Bilby's home town in Indiana where it will be erected.

 

(Cross reference to another GC thread on Bilby towers)

[+LSUFan]

Update: The Surveyors Historical Society has removed the Bilby tower from Louisiana and is in the process of moving it to Jasper Bilby's home town in Indiana where it will be erected.

 

(Cross reference to another GC thread on Bilby towers)

 

Well shoot, that is going to make it a lot longer drive for me to go see it now. I think that someone ought to pay for my trip, since they didn't ask my permission to remove it from here in LA.

 

Seriously, I am glad they made the effort to preserve this piece of surveying history.

Edited May 26, 2012 by LSUFan

[Bill93]

The tower is now up just south of Osgood, IN. Pictures and discussion in this thread on another forum.

 

I'm not sure they have it over a disk, but have inquired. If they need a disk, does anyone have a C&GS tri-station disk they would donate?

 

(Cross reference an additional thread here about Bilby)

Edited October 11, 2013 by Bill93

[kayakbird]

Bill93,

 

Thanks for the followup on this project - you just helped me to procrastinate finishing up my 2012 Montana bird observations for another 30 minutes. Great links in all the old threads. kayakbird

[Bill93]

The linked thread on the surveyors forum now says NGS will set a commemorative disk, and there will be a formal dedication, probably in June 2014. So I needn't have worried - the Surveyors Historical Society does things up right.

[NGS Surveyor]

I was in Osgood for the Bilby Tower construction. It was a lot of fun (I mostly watched).

 

GeorgeL

NGS Retired

[68-eldo]

Did you get any video? Pictures?

[Bill93]

Photos via Surveyors Historical Society:

https://plus.google.com/photos/109209179919974559773/albums/5935100767612928177

[68-eldo]

Wow, nice photos. Thanks for the link Bill.