Dating vintage Starrett tools

[jamesicus]

Over here in blighted sorry blighty i have a lot of english tool catalogues with Starrett entrys that i could post if you want, although a lot of the entries don't have illustrations for some reason ?
regards
Willy.

Please post anything you think will be of interest, Willy.

James
Researching Vintage Starrett Tools

 

[TOOLMASTER]

PRETTY BORING DATE..

 

[Grumpy Gator]

I'm trying to date this Starrett Protractor.All the ones I have seen don't have the small locking lever next to the thumb wheel. There is no model number that I can find but it shows this Pat date May 10 1898.*****************************************************
******Thanks***************Gator********************************************

 

[johnny59]

I'm interested in confirming the age of a Starrett "Speed Indicator"; I found some good basic information here:

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_690549

Mine appears to be an earlier version, but I'd like to try to narrow it down. The dial seems to be the key area of differences...

 

[Silverbullet]

James,

I may have a few vintage Starrett tools and I know I have a couple of early 1900's catalogs. The web site is a great idea, I wish someone would start one for Lufkin as I have a rather extensive collection of their tools.

Tom

I like lufkin too. Have quite a few of them , I look for the ww2 green paint mostly.

 

[kd4gij]

You can go here and create an account, then you can order a free book about the history of starrett, also other free stuff
http://www.starrett.com/catalogs

 

[waynecuefix]

Somewhat off thread but someone here might find this interesting. I had acquired an old Starrett 64A indicator in the wooden box with accessories. It was the second one I bought but it didn't work. I played around with it and found it was fine. Apparently when stored away the previous owner had relaxed the spring. Having no instructions as to its use I wrote this "instruction manual" which basically makes some assumptions but expresses my findings. May be of use to someone.
STARRETT TEST INDICATOR SET 64A USER INSTRUCTIONS (by Wayne L. Hester)
This unit will not work when the spring is in the relaxed state (preferred for long storage).
Locate the wheel under the indicator pointer arm which controls a delicate wire spring. This wheel has a locking screw at its axis which locks and unlocks the wheel. It is stored unlocked so the spring is in the relaxed (neutral) position to improve the longevity of the spring wire during long storage.
To ready the indicator for use make sure the spring adjust wheel screw is loosened enough so the wheel is unlocked.
With indicator arm to one side turn the spring adj. wheel with the thumb to the same direction to apply spring tension against the arm for that direction. With ample tension hold the wheel and tighten the screw to lock the wheel and spring in that direction.
With the spring locked move the indicator arm manually and release it and it should return to the set direction. If not more spring tension is needed so repeat the process with more spring tension.
This allows the indicator to indicate in the direction of the spring setting. For the other direction repeat the process tensioning the spring in the other direction by thumbing the wheel in the other direction. For long storage release the tension by loosening the wheel screw slightly to release the spring to relaxed state.
This instrument is very adequate for indicating center or detecting errors on work chucked in a lathe. While it has been replaced by modern clock style gauges, it did an amazing job for machinists of old and still does if properly used.

 

[Silverbullet]

I h

Good morning, James and all --

Here are a couple of pictures of a Starrett double protractor (see page 41 in the catalog link posted earlier). It was in the same box as the level and has a patent date of Dec. 27, 1904. The id stamp is just L.S.S. Co. and is one I didn't see on your site, James.

This is all good fun and thanks again for all the work you've put in on it.

Keith W

Ive the same double square protractor in my box. Even the blades for it. It's in very good condition , I got it in the 1970s , last one I saw on eBay sold for over $400. By itself. I saw another odd one awhile back ill try to put picture I saved. Nope won't load oh well.

 

[Bob Korves]

Somewhat off thread but someone here might find this interesting. I had acquired an old Starrett 64A indicator in the wooden box with accessories. It was the second one I bought but it didn't work. I played around with it and found it was fine. Apparently when stored away the previous owner had relaxed the spring. Having no instructions as to its use I wrote this "instruction manual" which basically makes some assumptions but expresses my findings. May be of use to someone.
STARRETT TEST INDICATOR SET 64A USER INSTRUCTIONS (by Wayne L. Hester)
This unit will not work when the spring is in the relaxed state (preferred for long storage).
Locate the wheel under the indicator pointer arm which controls a delicate wire spring. This wheel has a locking screw at its axis which locks and unlocks the wheel. It is stored unlocked so the spring is in the relaxed (neutral) position to improve the longevity of the spring wire during long storage.
To ready the indicator for use make sure the spring adjust wheel screw is loosened enough so the wheel is unlocked.
With indicator arm to one side turn the spring adj. wheel with the thumb to the same direction to apply spring tension against the arm for that direction. With ample tension hold the wheel and tighten the screw to lock the wheel and spring in that direction.
With the spring locked move the indicator arm manually and release it and it should return to the set direction. If not more spring tension is needed so repeat the process with more spring tension.
This allows the indicator to indicate in the direction of the spring setting. For the other direction repeat the process tensioning the spring in the other direction by thumbing the wheel in the other direction. For long storage release the tension by loosening the wheel screw slightly to release the spring to relaxed state.
This instrument is very adequate for indicating center or detecting errors on work chucked in a lathe. While it has been replaced by modern clock style gauges, it did an amazing job for machinists of old and still does if properly used.

View attachment 242643

Thanks, Wayne! I thought my 64 was broken or the spring was too short, but now it works just fine.

 

[timpet98]

Hi, I have a very old Starrett combination square set and I'm struggling to date it. The strangest thing is that the rule has a square groove not the standard half circle one. The only things that it is missing is the scribe (I'm assuming the one it has is not original) and unfortunately also one of the little latch parts with the unique square nub on the end. I called Starrett and they said they "threw them all out a few years ago because the government kept taxing the inventory". That kind of saddened me because I have no clue how to get one of those. Here are some Pics and if anyone knows how I could find one of those parts that would be amazing, its my grandpa's square and I'm sure he would love to see it back together if possible. Apparently I forgot to photograph the center finder head but that's the part that is missing the latch stem part.