Starrett’s square 1879 24 February 2011
This is what I can add to this thread.
I have one nine inch example that includes a scale about .072 thick with the single line “STARRETT’S PAT. MAY. 6. 1879”, and six holes at 1/4“ spacing, with the first hole countersunk to accommodate a pencil, per the patent information. This is the square head that has no patent dates marked and has a nickel plated brass lock screw with two different diagonal ‘rope’ knurls. The scriber has a 3/8 diameter ball, a fine diagonal knurl, and is about 2.0” long under the shoulder, (the point looks un-altered.) I have a center head mounted with a nickel plated brass locknut that has straight concave knurling and no patent info marked. I honestly don’t recall if I myself added that center head or if it came with the square. Obviously, over 120 years, the center head addition cannot be proven to be originally included.
I have a twelve inch example that has a brass locknut with straight concave knurls that I honestly believe was never nickel plated. The brass is bright even in all the crevices. The scale is similar to the other one, about .072 thick and with eight holes at 1/4” spacing and the first hole opened up for a pencil. The marking on the scale is identical to the nine inch one. I can not see the 1879 patent date on the square but the 1880 one is clearly marked. That marking is about 23/32” long. No scriber.
I have another twelve inch head with a steel locknut and both patent dates marked. However these markings are only about 9/16” long. No scriber.
And I have another nine inch model that is similar to the twelve inch one just above. The locknut is steel and both patent dates are marked with the same 9/16” stamp as above. Again, no scriber. This one does include a scale about .083 thick and has the two line marking:
L.S. STARRETT,
ATHOL, MASS.
All three of the above mentioned scales are the thinner style, (looks to be about 1/16” or so), and all three have square grooves.
If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that they were produced in the order that I have listed them. I don’t know whether this would make them differing ‘models’ but they could at least be called ‘variations’.
None of these are ‘museum’ or ‘exhibition’ condition. My resources limit me to ‘heritage’ condition unless I get lucky over at FleaBay. (I have scored a couple of show pieces though, so you never know.)
Thanks again to all of you for being so generous with your information. As I mentioned before, I just discovered this site and am really enjoying it. I have been a tool-maker of one kind or another since part-time in high school in 1962. When I started, I knew some of old-timers that could have been “Bull of the Woods” models. Now, as near retirement, our shop is into high-speed hard milling, making even much of our EDM equipment obsolete. Anybody else notice how time is flying??
Tom H.