A Brown & Sharpe reference disc Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas from a Machinists’ Workbench. This is really a tool as opposed to a steel Christmas Tree. It is a 19th century set of Brown & Sharpe reference discs that some owner made a stand for, complete with an acorn shaped finial. This set ranges in size from 1/4” to 3” by 1/4” increments. The use of these discs dates back to the earliest times of machinists doing accurate work. This was a time when many machinists did not have a vernier caliper, micrometer or the means to have a standard more accurate than a rule at their bench. By having a set of discs they could transfer a precise measurement to the work with a pair of calipers. These discs being accurate to a fraction of a thousandth of inch were quite expensive and needed protection. This owner either liked milk or made this mahogany cover on National Milk Day, something must have inspired him to make it in the shape of a milk bottle of the period. I so wish the person who created this had signed and dated it so we give them the credit they deserve bringing us a little happiness in this season.