Hey Everyone. Please Help Me Learn About Vintage Level I Bought A Flea Market.

[Playingwithmetal]

Well the title says it all. I purchased a Empire MFG CO. Level today at a local flea market. I paid I beleive $1 dollar for it. I have tried googling it and can't find any information at all. I have been looking for a nice precision level. Something along the lines of a Starrett 98 6-12" level. Most likely I'll buy used on eBay when I find a good price. However I am courious as to see if maybe the level o picked up today will be an improvement in the meantime to my new empire bubble level. The level reads Empire Level MFG. CO. No.26E PAY. 2014.420 Milwaukee USA
Thanks
Dylan

 

[Grumpy Gator]

I call it a Torpedo level.
I see that your Spirit Tube has graduated lines. Place it on a level surface and read the bubble than rotate 180°.If it reads the same you are good to go. Now grab your feeler gauges and place a 0.005 blade under one end. If the bubble moves to the next line than rotate 180° and if you get the same reading it's good.
A machinist level will move the bubble to the next line with 0.0005 under one end.
>*G*<

 

[Playingwithmetal]

Thanks. That's great advise. The level looks like it might be precision. It seems well made and looks lapped.

 

[Badspellar]

You can view the patent information here.
http://www.google.com/patents/US2014420

 

[Dinosaur Engineer]

Doesn't look like a precision level to me.

 

[TOOLMASTER]

std old empire level..