another "can't help it" category.   The Lufkins work great and i will be cleaning the rust off them.   The Starrett is "stuck".

Yeah, that Starrett looks like it has seen some abuse.
I got a nice Starrett 436 the other day A 2 in-3 in.
In the original velvet-lined  box.  The spanner was missing, and so I replaced it with a Starrett Athol scribe that fits the same hold-down loop.
Now, what?
Looks like there is a plethora of them on the bay.