a big ole driver and nifty odd Slocumb measuring device

[Brad in Wisconsin]

the screwdriver is 14.5 inches and says Cowles Hardware co. Warranted Superior anyone know age of this and the mic. thingee says J T SLOCOMB CO. PROV. R.I. with patent dates of May 12 96 and April 13 97 with numbers 1-16,0625    1-32,0312  1-64,0156     is this maybe a piston measuring tool? i like this smiley!

[ron darner]

Interpretation of the numbers: 1/16th of an inch = 0.0625"; 1/32nd of an inch = 0.03125", and 1/64th of an inch = 0.015625"  This suggests that the micrometer measures in thousandths of an inch, and that these tell the user what to look for if the size, or the tolerance, is in the usual inverse powers of two (fractional) inches: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, or (rarely) 1/128.  From the shape, I'd guess that it was used to check size of something round, and that the typical tolerances were from 1/16th to as little as 1/64th of an inch.  Someone making parts on a lathe, especially a wood lathe, could use this very easily.  Most metal-cutting lathes have tighter tolerances built right in.

[rusty]

From a post of the old tools archives, Some flat blade screwdrivers marked Cowles Hardware co were Stanley made, the style ran from 1870 to 1927....

Cowles Hardware was definitely in existence in 1884 as they are listed* as changing address from Farmington tio Bridgeport (CT), in 1885 they changed their name to The Knapp and Cowles Manufacturing Co.

*(Special Acts and Resolutions Passed by the General Assembly - Connecticut 1884)

[bleonard]

the mic looks like one used to set the cutter on a boring bar
Bob