What Is This?

G

Gizmologist

Plastic

Joined

Mar 13, 2020

• Mar 15, 2020

• #1

Hi all, I'm new to machining and this forum. Retired and now going to do what I should have done 45 years ago.

Anyway, last week I bought an assortment of tools from a guy and I've been cleaning them up. I ran across this piece and thought it was just a piece of bar stock till I started cleaning it and noticed a couple of screws in the middle of it and then realized it was two pieces. I have never seen one of these before and am curious what it is and what it's used for. The stamping on it says General Hdw Mfg Co, Inc, New York, NY USA, No 112-D. I couldn't find much info online so any help would be great. Thanks

 

G

Gazz

Stainless

Joined

Sep 7, 2004

Location

NH

• Mar 15, 2020

• #2

Adjustable parallel.

 

J

JB Bergman

Hot Rolled

Joined

Nov 8, 2006

Location

Slayden, Mississippi

• Mar 15, 2020

• #3

It is called an machinist's adjustable parallel. Try that in google, LOTS of images!
Have fun in retirement!
JB

 

L

L Vanice

Diamond

Joined

Feb 8, 2006

Location

Fort Wayne, IN

• Mar 15, 2020

• #4

It is an adjustable parallel. They come in sets of different sizes and were made by several companies.. A common use is to adjust it to fit a slot and then measure it with a micrometer to determine the width of the slot.

In the old days, a budding machinist would collect printed catalogs from various tool suppliers like Manhattan Supply Co. (now MSC), General and Starrett. You would study every page and dream of which tools you would buy for yourself if you had the money. Eventually, you would recognize every tool in the catalogs and have an idea of how they were used and whether you really wanted them. Then you would haunt the flea markets and classified newspaper ads looking for bargains.

Larry

 

MilGunsmith

Stainless

Joined

Mar 6, 2006

Location

Sandyston, NJ

• Mar 15, 2020

• #5

As an apprentice, I had to make tools like that.

 

G

Gizmologist

Plastic

Joined

Mar 13, 2020

• Mar 15, 2020

• #6

Thanks, I did good then. I didn't know for sure but that's what I pegged it as once I got it apart.

 

G

Gizmologist

Plastic

Joined

Mar 13, 2020

• Mar 15, 2020

• #7

I'm not sure if my reply's are going through right, I'm still learning how to use the forum. Thanks to all who replied.

 

cyanidekid

Titanium

Joined

Jun 4, 2016

Location

Brooklyn NYC

• Mar 15, 2020

• #8

Coming through just fine. Welcome to the forum, and gotta say dig your handle. What was your day job for the last 45 years?

 

E

EJHanson

Aluminum

Joined

Dec 31, 2011

Location

Kamloops, B.C.

• Mar 16, 2020

• #9

Gizmologist said:

Hi all, I'm new to machining and this forum. Retired and now going to do what I should have done 45 years ago.

Anyway, last week I bought an assortment of tools from a guy and I've been cleaning them up. I ran across this piece and thought it was just a piece of bar stock till I started cleaning it and noticed a couple of screws in the middle of it and then realized it was two pieces. I have never seen one of these before and am curious what it is and what it's used for. The stamping on it says General Hdw Mfg Co, Inc, New York, NY USA, No 112-D. I couldn't find much info online so any help would be great. Thanks

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Happy Retirement! , I ended up with one of these parallels, mine is small, about 2" long, I am going to see if it has a company name on it, but pretty sure it is unmarked, leading me to believe it might have been hand built, perhaps as a project.
Cool info!