A Source Book for Rule Collectors with Rule Concordance and Value Guide

by Phil Stanley

Overview

Rule collectors rejoice! In A Source Book for Rule Collectors with Rule Concordance and Value Guide, Philip Stanley has crafted a masterfully comprehensive illustrated reference guide to the history, uses, and values of measuring instruments. ASource Book for Rule Collectors includes reprints of the best articles from the past 100 years dealing with rules and measurement; extensive coverage of the materials, construction, graduations and uses of rules; a detailed table of the European measures used before the metric system, for identifying rules by size and county of origin; a thorough cataloging of rule accessories; and a complete bibliography of reprints, articles, books, and publications dealing with measuring instruments.

The included Rule Concordance and Value Guide gives complete information for identifying and comparing all rules by all major American makers; estimates for each rule’s value based on condition and maker; extensive information on rule value, including condition, selling environment, and charisma.

This book is an essential reference. Rule enthusiasts will find the combination a pleasure to read. Mr. Stanley’s breadth of knowledge and his regard for the rules he discusses are apparent throughout. For the antique tool dealer, rule collector, and student of the history of technology, this book is essential.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493064724
Publisher:	Astragal Press
Publication date:	12/15/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
File size:	224 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Philip E. Stanley is a computer designer and programmer with degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Ohio State University. He holds more than fifteen patents.

A full-time dealer in antique tools and scientific instruments since 1975, he has written four books on antique measuring instruments, a guidebook for researching US patents, and numerous papers on tools and instruments. He researched and created a database describing all 10,000 US patents and donated the database to the US Patent Office. He has appeared on the Antiques Roadshow as an appraiser in the category of Science and Technology.

Stanley is a member of the Early American Industries Association, the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association, the Oughtred Society, and Antique Tools and Trades in Connecticut.

Now in retirement, he researches and writes about antique tools and scientific instruments and searches for them at antique shows, auctions, and flea markets. He lives in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

I Introduction To Rule Collecting 1

II Early Rule Lists And Flyers 15

III Reprinted Articles 23

The English Carpenter's Rule - Notes on Its Origin 24

Further Notes on the Early English Three Fold Ship Carpenter's Rule 28

A Guided Tour of an 18th Century Carpenter's Rule 31

Carpenter's and Engineer's Slide Rules (Part I: History) 36

Carpenter's and Engineer's Slide Rules (Part II: Routledge's Rule) 41

Carpenter's and Engineer's Slide Rules (Part III: Errors in Data Tables) 44

Joshua Routledge 1775-1829 46

Some Notes on the History and Use of Gunter's Scale 47

Further Notes on the Operation of Gunter's Rule 52

William Cox on the Sector 54

Dialling (Figuring Time) 60

Ashton Blaine French - Scaler and Log Rule Maker 62

William Greenleaf: Talented, Eccentric 66

E. S. Lane: A Maine Rule Maker and Scaler 68

A Most Unusual Rule 70

The Stanley No. 58½ Rule 73

How Thick is "Extra Thick"? 79

The Lufkin Rule Co 81

Measuring Rules 86

Rules 91

Introduction to Rulemaking at Birmingham 96

Rule Manufacturing (at Chapin-Stephens) 100

Rulemaker's Planes 102

Crafting Scale Rules by Hand - An Historical Note 104

IV Mensuration 109

Volume I, No. 1 (Summer 1987) 110

Volume I, No. 2 (Fall 1988) 122

Volume I, No. 3 (Fall 1989) 130

V Materials, Construction, and the Rulemaking Process 138

Materials 138

Construction 141

The Rulemaking Process 148

VI Graduations and Markings 154

Embellishment Lines 154

Linear, 1:1 Graduations 155

Linear Gradiations, Not 1 159

Nonlinear Graduations 163

Tables 165

VII Special Rule Types and Uses 169

Advertising & Third Party Rules 169

Dearborn's "Angelet" 170

Bench Rules 173

Bevels, Ship Carpenters' 173

Blacksmiths' Rules 174

"Blindman's Rules" 175

Board Measure, Board Sticks and Board Tables 175

Board & Loo Canes 177

Button Gauges 178

Calculator Rule 178

Caliper Rules 178

Carpenters' (Sliding) Rules 180

Carriagemakers' Rules 181

Combination Rules 181

Coopers' Rules 187

Cordage Rules 187

Counter Measures 187

Desk or School Rules 188

Draftsmen's Rules 189

Engineers' (Suding) Rules 192

Extension Sticks 192

Foreign Measures or Comparison Rules 194

Freight Rules or Forwarding Sticks 196

Gauging and Wantage Rods 196

Gear Rules 199

Glaziers' Rules 200

Gunter's Scales 201

Hatters' Rules 203

Horse Measures 203

Ironmongers' Rules 204

Ivory Rules 204

Lining or Accountants' Rules 205

Log Sticks, Log Canes, and Log Calipers 208

Machinists' Rules 210

Masonic Rules 212

Metric Rules 213

Milk Can Gauges 213

Multiple Slides 214

Plain Scales 216

Printers' Rules 217

Rolling Measures 218

Saddlers' Rules 220

Sealers' Rules 220

Seamstress or Workbasket Rules 223

The Sector 223

Shrinkage Rules 225

Six Fold Rules 227

Stationers' Goods 228

Steam Engineers' Rules 228

Tailors' Rules 230

Textile Industry Rules 233

Tinsmiths' Rules 236

Watch Glass Gauges 237

Woodcutters' Rules 238

Yark Sticks 238

VIII Foreign Units of Length 240

Origins 240

Historical Measures 240

Measures After the Renaissance 241

European Units of Length Before the Metric System 242

IX Rule Accessories 258

Rule Fence Attachments 258

Protractor Fence Attachments 261

Rule Trammel Points 262

Complex Rule Tools 264

Other Rule Accessories 267

Rule Accessories Yet to be Found 269

X A Rule Bibliography 272

Manufacturers' and Wholesalers' Catalogs 272

Books & Articles 274

Periodicals 283

Encyclopedias 284

Patent Indexes 285

Bibliographies & Directories 285

A Rule Concordance and Value Guide 287

Other Publications Philip E. Stanley 322