{"product_id":"vintage-bundeswehr-wooden-field-tripod-by-ertel-werk-german-army-surveyors-stand-with-ball-joint","title":"Vintage Bundeswehr Wooden Field Tripod by Ertel-Werk | German Army Surveyor's Stand with Ball Joint","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eAn original German army field tripod by Ertel-Werk of Munich, built to bring optical and surveying equipment up to working height in open terrain. Sturdy, fully height-adjustable, and finished with a ball joint head, this tripod works equally well holding a lamp, a plant, a camera, or anything else that benefits from a solid, adjustable stand with real history behind it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\" class=\"overflow-x-auto w-full px-2 mb-6 print:overflow-x-visible\"\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"min-w-full border-collapse text-sm leading-[1.7] whitespace-normal\"\u003e\n\u003cthead class=\"text-left\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\" class=\"text-text-100 border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.6)] py-2 pr-4 align-top font-bold\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\" class=\"text-text-100 border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.6)] py-2 pr-4 align-top font-bold\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eErtel-Werk, Munich, Germany\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eIssued to the German Bundeswehr\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eWood, with metal fittings\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHead\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eBall joint, rotates and angles freely\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccessory\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eIncludes original metal shoulder carry pipe for field transport\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeight range\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e85–130 cm (33.5\"–51.2\")\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eOriginal vintage patina, unique to each piece, natural variation in colour and wear\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStock\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eMultiple available, each one genuinely unique\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImport duty\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003ePayable by the buyer in their own country\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA note on variation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWe have several of these tripods in stock, and because each one lived its own working life, no two carry exactly the same patina. Some are more heavily weathered than others, and the wood tone varies from lighter to darker across the group. If you have a preference, lighter or darker, heavily weathered or more subtle, let us know before you order and we will select accordingly. Otherwise we will choose a good, representative piece for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eErtel-Werk's history in Munich goes back to 1802, to a precision workshop founded by Georg von Reichenbach and later carried forward under Traugott Ertel's name. For well over a century, the company built astronomical and surveying instruments admired for their exactness, work precise enough that Ertel-Werk was called on during the Second World War to produce components for the Enigma cipher machine, before the factory turned fully to wartime production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis folding wooden field tripod comes from that same tradition of exacting, purpose-built engineering, just applied to carrying optical and signalling equipment across open terrain instead of sitting on a workshop bench. Issued to the German Bundeswehr, it was designed to go where the work was: the ball joint head lets the top rotate and tilt freely to line up whatever instrument was mounted on it, the legs adjust to bring that instrument to working height on uneven ground, and the original metal shoulder pipe let a soldier carry the whole tripod slung across the back on the march to the next position.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThat same practicality is exactly what makes it such a versatile stand today. The ball joint and adjustable height work as well under a lamp as they once did under a pair of field binoculars, and the visible wear on the wood and metal is the mark of a tool that was actually used, not a reproduction built to look old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSuited to anyone looking for a genuine piece of German field equipment to mount their own lamp, camera, or display piece on, and to collectors of military and surveying history who want a functional, not just decorative, original.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blitzcraft Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53362820841808,"sku":null,"price":189.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0847\/7029\/2048\/files\/BlitzcraftVintage_Antiques_specialLightinganddecorJuly16_336van341.jpg?v=1785920772","url":"https:\/\/blitzcraftvintage.com\/products\/vintage-bundeswehr-wooden-field-tripod-by-ertel-werk-german-army-surveyors-stand-with-ball-joint","provider":"Blitzcraft Vintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}