Historical information

A Plane Table consists of a smooth wooden table surface (with metal strengthening supports) mounted on a sturdy base. The base, a three-legged Tripod, is designed to support the table over a specific point on land. The connection between the tabletop and the adjustable Tripod legs permits the user to level the table precisely, using bubble levels in a horizontal plane regardless of the roughness of the terrain.
The Plane Table is a surveying device used in surveying and mapping to provide a level surface on which to make drawings, charts or maps. An alidade, with or without a telescope located on the tabletop is used to sight features and draw angles to that feature. Using these lines to the same feature from different setup locations it is possible to locate that feature on the map.
Plane Tabeling was widely used by the early members of the Australian Survey Corps and in both World Wars. It remains a simple and effective tool to teach the fundamentals of mapping and surveying. It was simple to use and was reasonably robust and portable. See also item 6489.2 for the Plane Table Alidade.

Physical description

A wooden Plane Table with alloy fittings to strengthen and support the table top. The table is fixed to a three-legged wooden Tripod with cast alloy fittings and metal pointed tips.