The items were in a box lot along with an estwing hammer, stanley awls, brass hinges etc. From the top, Snap-on ratchet 71-M, Starrett level 98-8 included box and Stanley level 36G dirty but good, all as found. Auction was cold, but still a lot of guys there but they were more interested in the mechanics tools.
Nice stuff and a great price,does the Starrett level have a groove in the base?
Yes, the Starrett level has the groove in the base.
I'll give you $12 for the two levels and throw in shipping. You can double your investment and get all the other tools in that box lot for free!
I wouldn't bother with lottery tickets because you have burned all your luck already. Those are precise machinist levels used for setting up machinery.
And as luck would have it, I didn't even have that Snap-on ratchet in my collection.
Hello, Coolford. Sounds like you had a great day!! Regards, Lou
Quote from: Downwindtracker2 on December 17, 2019, 11:52:37 AMThose are precise machinist levels used for setting up machinery.
Is the Stanley 36 series level a machinist level? Stanley was rather vague in its catalog about the rating for the levels, and I always assumed they were high-grade carpenter's levels, since Stanley offered a series (34 series) of levels similar to the pictured Starrett level.
I think Stanley might have called them that. I don't trust my memory anymore. Starrett might have made one as well. I've never used one. And every time I've seen one at the fleamarket , they have wanted more than I was willing to pay. So I've never got to play with one. I've used machinist levels, but that's different. Mine is Moore&Wright.
Stanley made a model 36 and a 36G the G version had the grooved bottom and was referred to as a shaft or shafting level. the 36 models were made from 1898 to 1977. They made a 6,9,12,18 and 24" version. This info is from John Walters great book on Stanley tools ( page 276 if you happen to have a copy ). I still have several of the Starrett shaft levels left over from when I was in working. Starretts version was offered is several different lengths and with varying degrees of accuratecy. I never worked with a Stanley version of a shaft level and Walters does not talk about accuratcey in his book. I know Sttarret made one version that was almost too accurate for some jobs, the increments were in 1 thou graduations and for most machinery installations in sawmills pulp mills and mines this degree of accuratecy was not required. The popular ones we used were 3 or 5 thou per graduation.
Those Sttarret ones are highly sought after. Better lock it in a safe. Very expensive both new and used as anything Sttarret. I have a Sttarret 5/8 drive ratchet with a patent date over 100 years old. It uses stamped steel sockets.
EvilDr235
Quote from: Bill Houghton on December 17, 2019, 09:49:36 PM
Quote from: Downwindtracker2 on December 17, 2019, 11:52:37 AMThose are precise machinist levels used for setting up machinery.
Is the Stanley 36 series level a machinist level? Stanley was rather vague in its catalog about the rating for the levels, and I always assumed they were high-grade carpenter's levels, since Stanley offered a series (34 series) of levels similar to the pictured Starrett level.
In the 1958 Stanley catalog the "34v" is listed as a machinist level and is nickel plated. And yes it is similar in shape
as the Starrett "98-8 in the Pic from coolford.
The "36" (smooth bottom) and the "36g" (grooved bottom) is listed as a Japanned iron plumbs and levels.
Recommended for carpenters, plumbers, millwrights, electricians, etc. And the "37g" is the same as the"36g"
but it is nickel plated.
One difference I see other than the shape is the "34" series uses "ground glass" and all the other levels use "proved glass" vials.
I have a 24 inch "36g" and one thing I know is, it is not very practical to use for finish carpentry or plumbing and I have
done both in high end construction.
Sorry gibsontool I did not intend to repeat what you wrote. I am slow.
A shaft level or use for machinery leveling would be very practical for the "36g".
One of these days I'll dig out the shaft levels I have and take some pictures. If anybody is interested in a trade or a purchase let me know and that may get me moving a little faster.
So I did see millwright. Millwrights do precision machine set ups. In my day, we used optical levels. They could be read to a thou, but light bends, so they weren't that accurate. Now they use lasers, they don't bend.
Quote from: Downwindtracker2 on December 18, 2019, 08:16:34 PMThey could be read to a thou, but light bends, so they weren't that accurate. Now they use lasers, they don't bend.
Light bends, yes*, but normally only around strong gravitational fields. Were you doing work near the Sun?
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*Or, according to one interpretation of the General Theory of Relativity, space bends near strong gravitational fields, and the light follows the curvature of space in that area.
Heat waves easily bend light, just ask someone who shoots Farky class in the afternoon. :grin: