William J. D. Keuffel and Herman Esser partnered in business in New York in 1867, selling drawing materials and drafting supplies. K&E, as the firm was soon known, began offering surveying instruments in 1876, and was incorporated in 1889. K&E introduced a new line of surveying instruments in the early 1890s, many of which are displayed in the National Museum of American History in... [More]