Author Topic: Re: Nice old surface gauge (Read 2254 times)

nearnexus · « **on:** August 21, 2011, 05:26:37 AM »

My original post got lost as there was some sort of server error, so I will have another go :-)

Went to a garage sale and picked up a very nice old surface gauge for a dollar.

These are so cool - you sometimes see them pop up up for about $5 - $15 which is still pretty cheap but they really look nice in the old world way.

Does anyone collect these?

Here's mine. I made up the pointer (which was missing) but it needs to be a lot longer so I will redo it, but the rest is original.

No brand name on it - only the previous owners name.

Bluechip · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2011, 06:16:04 AM »

Special Antipodean text ...

ǝɔǝıd ʇsǝʇ ǝɔıʇuǝɹdd∀ uɐ ǝq llǝʍ plnoƆ

˙ʞ∩ uı ǝɔuǝɹnɔɔo uoɯɯoɔ ɐ ǝʇınQ

BC

Hasn't he got better things to do ??? Quite so ....

nearnexus · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2011, 06:32:25 AM »

Should I have posted the pictures upside down so you could see them more easily ?

Rob

Bernd · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2011, 07:50:18 AM »

Thank god I had the laptop. I had to turn it upside down to read that.

Bernd

rmw · « **Reply #4 on:** August 29, 2011, 08:09:08 PM »

Yep. That really was a good one!

DaveH · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2011, 04:20:13 PM »

Rob,

For a dollar, thats not bad

DaveH

nearnexus · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2011, 06:48:37 PM »

Yep, not bad for $1.

I would rarely use a surface gauge, but liked the look of it.

Now I can't decide whether to modify it with some magnets in the base and use it as a dial gauge base, or leave it as it is.

It looks like a Starrett design, but there are no makings on it. Might be a copy.

Rob

winklmj · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:02:40 AM »

I have a Starrett that looks similar. The only mark is on the long rod--nothing on the base.

Pete. · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2011, 11:44:52 AM »

I have one of those. Wish I had an idea how to use it...

75Plus · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2011, 06:08:27 PM »

Quote from: Pete. on August 31, 2011, 11:44:52 AM

I have one of those. Wish I had an idea how to use it...

If you Google "How to use a surface gauge" you will find several hours of reading material on the subject.

Joe

nearnexus · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2011, 07:14:13 PM »

When I bought it I thought that the milled "V" section in the base was to allow it to fit on a lathe bed but I'm not so sure now.

It would have to be a pretty big lathe, as on my little 10 inch swing unit the gauge base is way too big for one "V".

I had a look and there's no markings on the rod, so the manufacturer is unknown.

I like the look of old tooling and old lathes as they always put some "style" into their design.

I suppose they saw it as a way to get the buyer sucked in. A bit like chrome fins on early model cars :-)

All the modern stuff is purely function. Style seems to have gone out the window.

Rob

winklmj · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2011, 07:54:18 PM »

I think the V is for using no a pipe or cylinder.

MadModder

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