"Edmund Draper was born in Philadelphia in 1805 and died there in 1882.  The Philadelphia City directories show as follows:  1833-37 Edmund Draper, instrument mf;  1837-38 Draper & Knox, Mathematical Instrument maker, Edmund Draper & Joseph Knox;  1852-82 Edmund Draper, mathematical & optical instrument maker.

In the Fifth edition of the catalog of Young & Sons dated April 1878 is the following paragraph:  "About the same time (1830-1835) Mr. Edmund Draper constructed a graduating engine, which, amongst those acquainted with it, has a high reputation for accuracy."

He made the first distinctive mine transit about 1850.

There are various instruments bearing the name of Stancliffe & Draper.  The Philadelphia City Directories do not list Edmund Draper and Benjamin Stancliffe as partners but it is assumed they may have been in partnership between 1830 and 1833."

Reference:  Smart, Charles E.  The Makers Of Surveying Instruments In America Since 1700  Troy, New York:  Regal Art Press.  1962

Instrument shown is from the collection of the National Museum of American History, a division of the Smithsonian Institution