Found this rule recently in a box of old tools - it has been cleaned. The makers name looks like Josiah Peutress - London

Despite a good search around on the internet I cant find anything about them, your comments are appreciated.

So same problem as me then !!!

Checked Grace's Guide to british Industry website - no results for Josiah Peutress.

my guess is that you should be looking for peWtress

P-toad I think you got it right, it appears to be Pewtress. see https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?i=51900&WINID=1662847161671

So its the owners name on the rule not the maker ?

Possibly, all the London pictures states he is a Shipping agent. This entry in the 1881 census https://www.findmypast.co.uk/1881-census/josiah-pewtress-0003688639 gives his occupation as a Hardware Merchant, so he could have had them made by a third party, for sale by him as a hardware merchant with his name on it.

I think you have cracked it !! So it seem a rare little item then ?