What is it.

Dave H (MI) · Jan 19, 2022

The last collection I bought had two cardboard boxes along with the toolbox. In one of them was this thing. It's companions in the box were a large and a small surface gage. SOMETIMES people group things that are used together, so maybe that helps. This item is 7 1/4 inches high for reference. All hardware is steel EXCEPT the large knurled horizontal adjustment nut although the threaded part of that nut is steel. The base is steel and very heavy. The upright part is non ferrous and contains copper based on a small area of green oxidation. The large knurled nut is the same material. The vertical hardware moves the top of the unit up and down on two pins by turning the smaller knurled nut. I have some vague ideas of what goes on with some of the parts but the complete function and purpose of this unit eludes me. For example, I have an idea that the horizontal adjustment is a clamp and I have a guess what it clamps. Why it clamps it and the reason for the up and down adjustment, is a mystery. This is a well machined and beautifully aged piece...hoping we can figure it out. No visible maker marks.

Jim.ME · Jan 19, 2022

It looks like a scale rule holder of some type. It could be used to hold a scale squarely against flat vertical or horizontal surfaces for optical alignment. The side knurled nut would clamp the scale to it. Most scale holders don't need that adjustment between the two sections. With a few more parts it could be something for a comparator or height gauge.

Dave H (MI) · Jan 20, 2022

Oh boy...a stumper here! I'm fairly sure it is not a height gauge. I have seen several and this has such a limited range so no. When I search comparator I get mixed results so no opinion on that because I don't know what it is. I can tell you from my own experience that it is highly likely the clamp is for holding a metal ruler (scale). The bottom is pretty clearly meant to be set on a surface plate and as such would give a very accurate height reading with the unit all the way down and the scale touching the plate. The limited vertical adjustment could allow for the addition of (fill in the blank)underneath the scale for some fabrication purpose. You could shim it, add gauge blocks or place a part of a work piece. Depending on need.

But it has to have a name and there must be some written materials or catalog descriptions out there! Need to figure it out.

Millwright · Jan 20, 2022

I would lean towards a jig for tool setting.

TimWafer · Jan 20, 2022

It looks like an adjustable version of something similar to a
Starrett Machinist Rule Holder Base No. 62

TimWafer · Jan 20, 2022

Like an adjustable one of these.

https://www.starrett.com/metrology/product-detail/62

redforlife · Jan 20, 2022

Where this item came from, and what was being done there, might be useable
clues as to what this piece was used for.

Dave H (MI) · Jan 20, 2022

Yeah...that's it. A little less fancy but it does the same basic thing. Pretty good answer over on Tractor Talk. I decided to
cast a wider net.

Dave H (MI) · Jan 20, 2022

It came from the back porch of a shabby old house on a side street in Albion, MI. Near as I can tell the only thing they were doing there was trying to get by. Young fella, not really wanting to converse, just wanted me to haul off three boxes of tools he had put out for me and pay him so he could go back in the house.

redforlife · Jan 20, 2022

I stand corrected. Maybe it wouldn't be of any help to know. LOL.
Sounds like it's use had nothing to do with where you found it.

What is it.

Dave H (MI)

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Jim.ME

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Dave H (MI)

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Millwright

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TimWafer

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TimWafer

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redforlife

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Dave H (MI)

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Dave H (MI)

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redforlife

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