Dip Needle

Dip Needle

Mining Surveying

Physical Description

The dip needle is a steel cylinder with two glass faces, a worn brass lifting ring, and a worn brass chain holding a steel rod inserted into the main of the dip needle at about 1 o'clock. There is hand scratched engraving of "M | POP" at 11 o’clock on the main body, which may be the initials of an owner at some point. Internals are a ring of steel that is inscribed, a steel triangular joint to hold a brass needle, held together by three brass screws, with a copper wire wrapped around the needle and a steel tab sticking out between the connection of the needle and joint.

Functional Description

To use the dip needle hold lift ring letting the dip needle hang vertically, pull out the steel rod inserted at 1 o’clock in the body of the dip needle so that the needle swings freely. Readings with the dip needle are relative so for best results take a reading in a place that is known to have no magnetic attraction other than the earth’s natural magnetic field. Then move in the same plane of meridian/north or south looking deviations in the readings (Gurley 1921, 174-5). To make readings on the dip needle, hold at waist height and walk slowly while watching the needle for movement and deviation from precious reading in the non-magnetic zone. Do not shake or swing the dip needle, keep a steady and straight arm (Gold Fever Adventures 2023, timestamp 3:40-4:10).

Travis Haines

1920s - 1930s

English

physical object

ADH-4

Base : 85mm x 22mm Lifting Ring : 95mm
Case : 114mm x 110mm x 33mm

Steel, brass, glass, and copper

Probably Tycos Short & Mason, London, England

Engraving : M | POP
Scale 0 to 90° to 0 by 10s in a semicircle

Dip needles were used for geological surveys in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Such as in 1947, W. A. Seaman, a professor at Michigan College of Mining and Technology now known as Michigan Technological University, used dip needles to survey magnetic profiles around lake Michigamme.
Gifted to Michigan Technological University by A. D. Hellens who was a Canadian mining engineer consultant and served in the Royal Canadian Engineers. This dip needle is nearly identical to the “Tycos” model from Short & Mason [5]. They have the same lifting ring, chain and interior. This may be a refurbished version of the Tycos Short & Mason dip needle because it seems the steel outer body, steel triangular joints, and steel tab have replaced the brass outer body, steel one limbed joint, and brass/copper tab and the copper wire may have also been changed. But the inner ring is the same because the screw holes are in the same exact places to hold the joint to the inner ring. The lifting ring and chain are also notably more worn than the rest of the dip needle.

Mineral Museum, Showroom floor

[1]F. Gerali (2019). Dipping Needle, Engineering and Technology History Wiki. [Online] Available:https://ethw.org/Dipping_Needle 

[2]W. Seaman(1947). Geology of the Lake Michigamme area Baraga and Marquette counties, State of Michigan Department of Conservation 

[3]W. & L. E. Gurley, A Manual of the Principal Instruments used in American Engineering and Surveying(1921), W. & L. E. Gurley Troy, N. Y. 

[4]Gold Fever Adventures, How To Locate Gold Deposits - Dip Needle - Dry Washing for Gold - Arizona(Nov 5, 2023), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqbNj1AV7xs 

[5]Moneycanbuyyoueverything, 1900's Short & Mason Tycos Dip Needle Mining Compass Glass Box Made in England, Picclick.com https://picclick.com/1900s-Short-Mason-Tycos-Dip-Needle-Mining-194230974771.html