AntiqueMac
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2003
- Location
- Florida Mountains!
I often see shop made tools that are close copies of manufactured ones. Occasionally I buy the shop made version. But, I haven't found a web site that provides a reference to such tools. So, I'll start a catalog of fakes, copies and knock-offs here and hope PM'er will join in.
To borrow (actually, I'm stealing it ) Rivett608's line he uses about such items - "Is it real or is it Memorex". And who knows, if several of us turn out to have the same item, then maybe it an actual manufactured knock-off versus a craftsman's one-of copy.
Here is a copy (ON THE LEFT IN ALL PICS), that is not an original version, of the Starrett #52 surface gauge (Original on the right in all pics):
For a better look at three different types of the real Starrett made #52 look here:
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/v...ory/starrett-52-surface-gages-3-types-219200/
It is somewhat curious to me why a person would go to the time and effort to copy a tool they could buy. In the 1894 catalog, the price for a Starrett made #52 was $2.00. According to an 'inflation calculator, "What cost $2.00 in 1894 would cost $48.96 in 2009." One chart I found said the median hourly wage rate in 1894 was $1.00. If "time is money", weren't these certainly expensive to make??????????? Any thoughts?
OK, come on! Show us some fakes, copies or knock-offs.
To borrow (actually, I'm stealing it ) Rivett608's line he uses about such items - "Is it real or is it Memorex". And who knows, if several of us turn out to have the same item, then maybe it an actual manufactured knock-off versus a craftsman's one-of copy.
Here is a copy (ON THE LEFT IN ALL PICS), that is not an original version, of the Starrett #52 surface gauge (Original on the right in all pics):
For a better look at three different types of the real Starrett made #52 look here:
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/v...ory/starrett-52-surface-gages-3-types-219200/
It is somewhat curious to me why a person would go to the time and effort to copy a tool they could buy. In the 1894 catalog, the price for a Starrett made #52 was $2.00. According to an 'inflation calculator, "What cost $2.00 in 1894 would cost $48.96 in 2009." One chart I found said the median hourly wage rate in 1894 was $1.00. If "time is money", weren't these certainly expensive to make??????????? Any thoughts?
OK, come on! Show us some fakes, copies or knock-offs.