Help with vintage Brown & Sharpe micrometer

[MarkMcC]

New to this forum - hoping those with expertise can help me. I'm trying to help a family friend whose father, Ken Howell, was a pioneer in the rifle cartridge reloading field a number of years ago. I'm working my way through his collection and he had several micrometers, most of which I have been able to identify and sell. The majority of his reloading equipment dates to the 1940's - 1960's. I'm having trouble with a Brown & Sharpe micrometer that was in the box (see attached photo). I'm pretty sure this micrometer does not belong in this box? The micrometer is marked "12" and is also stamped "1/100mm". Almost all of the vintage B & S micrometers I have looked at have calibrations/numbers on the frame. As you can see, this one does not. I have not seen any No. 12's like this one. And the 1/100mm has me stumped also? The patent numbers (1629406 and 1654843) date to 1927 & 1928. If someone could shed some light on what I have I'd be very grateful! Thanks in advance and God bless! Mark

 

[Eric M]

You are correct with your assessment that this is not the original box for this micrometer. This is a metric micrometer, while the box is for an inch-based micrometer. The metric micrometers did not have the fraction-to-decimal equivalents marked on the frame. I have a couple of B&S No. 13 micrometers, which are basically the inch-based equivalent to your No. 12.

 

[MarkMcC]

You are correct with your assessment that this is not the original box for this micrometer. This is a metric micrometer, while the box is for an inch-based micrometer. The metric micrometers did not have the fraction-to-decimal equivalents marked on the frame. I have a couple of B&S No. 13 micrometers, which are basically the inch-based equivalent to your No. 12.

Thank you for your quick response! Any idea when the No.12 metric micrometers came out or when mine would have been out? Too bad on the incorrect box - there's a pretty slick heavy, black, hard plastic with purple velvet interior case inside!

 

[Eric M]

Looking through old tool catalogs can help you get an idea of the approximate age of your micrometer. You can find several old Brown & Sharpe tool catalogs here: https://archive.org/details/internationaltoolcataloglibrary?query=Brown+&+Sharpe

 

[MarkMcC]

Thanks again for your help - I'll keep looking.

 

[John Garner]

The purple-velvet-lined micrometer cases I have seen -- maybe a dozen since the late 1960s -- were decades old when I saw them. That hints that your case might have come out of Providence, RI with your micrometer inside it.

I realize that collectors would value an original cardboard box, but if yoyowant to sell the set to a user rather than a collector, I wouldn't sweat the newer cardboard box.

 

[William Lynn]

Almost 40 years ago, I bought this #13 Brown & Sharpe from a retiring coworker. It was old when I got it and have no idea when he bought it.

 

[MarkMcC]

Thank you William and John - I had thought about selling the No.12 in the "Deluxe Case" that the No.1 must have been in originally and may just do that - the No. 12 looks pretty nice in it (it really is a dark purple velvet, not the blue that comes out in this photo). I also have a dovetailed wooden box that another micrometer must have been in at some time. Still trying to determine an approximate year for the No. 12 - I'm guessing in the 1940's?

 

[MarkMcC]

I was able to look at the B & S No. 29 catalog and it has the No. 12 RS (which is what I think I have) listed in it - dated 1924.