Brass Disk Origins

[fixman88]

I don't know if this is a silly question or not, but I've been wondering about it. Where does the NGS get the brass disks for the benchmarks from? Do they make them themselves? Do they buy them from someone (if so, who?) I've tried looking on the net but so far no luck. Any info would be appreciated!

[MarkDuster]

Don't know about the official source, but maybe these guys:

 

http://www.keyesdavis.com/tm.html

 

Reproduction markers are available here:

 

http://www.geositu.com/

[fixman88]

Don't know about the official source, but maybe these guys:

 

http://www.keyesdavis.com/tm.html

 

Reproduction markers are available here:

 

http://www.geositu.com/

Wow, thanks! Keyes-Davis looks like an official source (or more likely one of them).

[ArtMan]

Berntsen International is probably the best-known maker of these markers. From their website:

 

"Berntsen International, Inc. is a manufacturer and supplier of survey markers,

survey monuments, utility markers, and related accessories. Founded in 1972

as Berntsen Cast Products, by Phillip Peterson and Peter Berntsen, we have

been Marking The Boundaries Of The Nations for over 30 years. ...

 

"Our markers are found in all 50 U.S. States and in almost 100 countries

worldwide from the Nile River to the Panama Canal, from Antarctica to Saudi

Arabia, from Madagascar to Singapore, from the bottom of Death Valley to

the top of Mount McKinley.

 

"We have been greatly honored to participate in many special commemorative

projects. Some of them include making special "Center of Population" markers

to identify the population center based on the U.S. Census every 10 years, the

District of Columbia bicentennial celebration, the 200th anniversary of Great Britain's

Ordinance Survey, the 100th anniversary of the modern day Olympics, the marking

of the Four Corners, and the marking of Pike's Peak to celebrate the anniversary

of the composition "America The Beautiful" to name just a few."

 

Their website includes pricing information, if you're curious as to how much these things cost, as well as detailed drawings so you can see what's under the surface of those typical 3.5" survey disks.

 

-ArtMan-

[+geo_eclectic]

I always thought that most of the disks out there were bronze, not brass. Bronze is more resitant to corrosion. I noticed that Berntsen International sells bronze markers and the other company sells brass markers.

 

Of course there are a lot of aluminium marks being used these days.

[+planetrobert]

I don't know if this is a silly question or not, but I've been wondering about it. Where does the NGS get the brass disks for the benchmarks from? Do they make them themselves? Do they buy them from someone (if so, who?) I've tried looking on the net but so far no luck. Any info would be appreciated!

they are purchased by NASA for the NGS fram a race called the t'lisk

 

these beings trade in markers for other worlds. these markers are created on their fifth moon around the southern pole where the perticular minerals are found. these markers are hand made by the young of their species who are enslaved untill maturity.

 

STOP the expliotation of these innocent people. DO NOT hunt benchmarks and support their slave trade.

[+California Bear]

EGADS! If I had only known...

 

That may explain why fillings pick up strange radio signals in an alien language whenever I am near a benchmark!!!

[fixman88]

Thanks for the help everyone! I knew you guys would come through!

Edited February 15, 2004 by fixman88