Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: Papaw on January 08, 2019, 02:36:17 PM

Title: Drafting Tools?
Post by: Papaw on January 08, 2019, 02:36:17 PM
These tools were donated to our local museum by the daughter of one of Alvin's Chief Inspectors.
Antique drafting instruments or post-war engineering doohickeys? Lengths range from 6 to 8 inches long.


Title: Re: Drafting Tools?
Post by: papadan on January 08, 2019, 02:51:46 PM
Those are some nice Doo's, and the Hickey's ain't bad either! ;-)
Title: Re: Drafting Tools?
Post by: Bill Houghton on January 08, 2019, 04:21:59 PM
They look like drafting tools to me, but I'm not a draftsperson, so am going on past pictures I've seen and drafting kits I've stumbled across (but not purchased) at estate sales.
Title: Re: Drafting Tools?
Post by: Papaw on January 08, 2019, 06:01:53 PM
Someone on the Facebook page where they were first posted thinks they are  wax shaping tools, but I don't think so.
Title: Re: Drafting Tools?
Post by: lptools on January 08, 2019, 09:10:38 PM
Hello, Papaw. Those are pretty nice looking drafting tools. I have a set here labeled Traco, with similar looking tools, and then I did a little looking around on the web. The tools with the adjustable points are most likely Ruling Pens, and the one with the ribbed wheel may have been used for drawing dotted lines. Here is a link to a Drafting Tools Collector's site.   http://collectingme.com  Regards, Lou
Title: Re: Drafting Tools?
Post by: Lewill2 on January 09, 2019, 05:20:48 AM
I started out as a draftsman using pencils just after ink drawings went out of fashion. The 2 handled tools are ink pens for drawing. The dual on is more unusual. The plain steel items don't look like any draftsman tools I have seen or used. The thumb screw on the pens adjusted the width of the line you were drawing.
Title: Re: Drafting Tools?
Post by: Papaw on January 09, 2019, 09:53:23 AM
I am in agreement on the two "pens", but the others are still a mystery to me.
Title: Re: Drafting Tools?
Post by: gibsontool on January 09, 2019, 10:17:10 AM
I've done quite a few drawings over the years and I agree with Lewill2,and Papaw the steel ones may be drafting related but they are something I've never seen or used. Following are a couple of sets I collected over the years Both are German made with the Alpha Set on the right being the better of the two. I've had this set for 30 years or more and used it quite often out in our field offices.
Title: Re: Drafting Tools?
Post by: J.A.F.E. on January 11, 2019, 01:54:33 PM
The top one and the ivory handled one are ruling pens used to ink lines. The dual one at the top is called a railroad pen and is used to to layout RR track. They are not common.

The tool with the pointy wheel is used to transfer a line from a template it pokes holes in the paper and then pounce (not to be confused with ponce) is used to make small marks.

Not sure about the solid wheel. The ones with a slot at the end may be fixed line width ruling pens I'm not really sure. A close up may reveal more.