I've just been sent the following mail, looking for info on the history of the 'ledge symbol', by which I think he means what we call
'pitch edge' and 'ceiling-step' symbols. I really don't know the answers so thought I'd ask here.
I've also posted it to the cave-surveying mailing list:
http://lists.survex.com/pipermail/cave-surveying/2011-March/000313.html
+++ Dwight Livingston [2011-03-17 22:09 -0400]:
> Wookey
>
> Greetings. I'm a U.S. native, West Virginia caver, and slated to give a talk
> this summer at our NSS annual convention. The paper is on "Ledge Symbols in
> Profile Views", and it'd add some depth if I could find some history of the
> use of ledge symbols in plan views. I believe U.S. usage started in
> Missouri, but I suspect the symbols were imported, probably from England or
> France. So I'm looking for a source.
>
> Here's what I'm looking for . . .
> Who's the expert in the history of cave cartography and willing to answer a
> few questions?
Not sure. Dave Irwin had excellent historical knowledge but died
recently. I would have tried Bryan Ellis too, but he's dead as well.
I'm not sure we really have a particular 'history of cave cartography'
expert in the country - not that I've noticed anyway. Anyone?
> What is the best available text on the history of cave cartography?
Trevor Shaw's 'History of cave science' is the only one I can recall. But it doesn't go into detail about symbols.
> Who drew the first ceiling ledge symbols, when did they do it, and what cave
> was it?
Good question. All I know is that it was in the BCRA symbol set when
I starting the 1980s. I think this set was specified quite some time
earlier - 1960s probably but I can't find a reference right now.
> Know of any examples of ledge symbols in profile views?
I have seen various 'tunnel going back into/out of page'
representations, but I can't recall a case where the floor/ceiling
edge symbols were used for this. They probably have been though, as
it's the same thing in elevation.
> Any leads you can send to me will be most appreciated.
>
> Dwight Livingston
>
'pitch edge' and 'ceiling-step' symbols. I really don't know the answers so thought I'd ask here.
I've also posted it to the cave-surveying mailing list:
http://lists.survex.com/pipermail/cave-surveying/2011-March/000313.html
+++ Dwight Livingston [2011-03-17 22:09 -0400]:
> Wookey
>
> Greetings. I'm a U.S. native, West Virginia caver, and slated to give a talk
> this summer at our NSS annual convention. The paper is on "Ledge Symbols in
> Profile Views", and it'd add some depth if I could find some history of the
> use of ledge symbols in plan views. I believe U.S. usage started in
> Missouri, but I suspect the symbols were imported, probably from England or
> France. So I'm looking for a source.
>
> Here's what I'm looking for . . .
> Who's the expert in the history of cave cartography and willing to answer a
> few questions?
Not sure. Dave Irwin had excellent historical knowledge but died
recently. I would have tried Bryan Ellis too, but he's dead as well.
I'm not sure we really have a particular 'history of cave cartography'
expert in the country - not that I've noticed anyway. Anyone?
> What is the best available text on the history of cave cartography?
Trevor Shaw's 'History of cave science' is the only one I can recall. But it doesn't go into detail about symbols.
> Who drew the first ceiling ledge symbols, when did they do it, and what cave
> was it?
Good question. All I know is that it was in the BCRA symbol set when
I starting the 1980s. I think this set was specified quite some time
earlier - 1960s probably but I can't find a reference right now.
> Know of any examples of ledge symbols in profile views?
I have seen various 'tunnel going back into/out of page'
representations, but I can't recall a case where the floor/ceiling
edge symbols were used for this. They probably have been though, as
it's the same thing in elevation.
> Any leads you can send to me will be most appreciated.
>
> Dwight Livingston
>