Eric Brown
01-07-2017, 4:44 PM
The first marking gage to use a wheel type cutter is probably the July 11, 1865 patent by B.T. Currier (#48,663). It uses a beam that contains two individually adjustable wheels. In the patent he says "...which the marking-wheel L turns when used".
A later patent in 1871 by Daniel Webster Simmonds has one large wheel at the end of a wooden beam.
351017
(Photo from DATAMP.ORG)
The one probably easiest to recognize would be the patent of 1888 by L.O. Barrett (#384,413). From what I can tell it was first made by C.E. Jennings and is not in either the 1907 or 1917 catalogs. An example on E-Bay has the original box and the seller says that the larger shaft has calibrations but the smaller one does not. Also, the longer shaft is about 3/8" in diameter while the shorter one is 5/16". It is marked on the end of the stock with the patent date. (Photo by Kathy Donnelly of greatcatalogue - used with permission)
351018
Most Barretts were made by Goodell-Pratt (started using the G-P name in 1898). They mostly made it in a two rod version but single and triple versions exist. All three versions have 5/16" diameter rods and the marking wheels rotate. All rods have graduations on them along with the Goodell-Pratt name. The rods vary in length from 8" to 4" to 3". One way they did not follow the patent is that there should be a recess for one of the marking wheels. The original patent also was just for a two rod version.
351020
The next version of the Barrett was made by the Leavitt Machine Company (and also be the Robbins & Cowles Company). It was patented in Dec. 04, 1894 and while similar to the earlier model, it uses a different clamping mechanism. It also has 11/16" diameter rods, 8" and 4" long each with graduations only on the 8" one. The wheels also rotate.
351022
Stanley had a bunch of models with single or double rods. Many have a rotating wheel on one end and a pin on the other.
351023
The Model 98 is an all metal version with two wheels and two pins. The wheels have a recess to fully retract them. The rods are 6 3/4" long by 5/16" diameter and have graduations.
351024
Lee Valley (Veritas) has several models of wheel type marking gages. Some have a micro-adjust. Most have a 5/16" diameter rod (no graduations) 8" long. These differ from the earlier ones in that the marking wheels do not rotate and the edge is a single bevel. (The earlier ones all rotate and have double bevels.)
The smaller "Pocket Marking Gage" has a 1/4" rod that is 4 1/2" long. The wheel itself is also smaller than the earlier models that were typically .375"
L_V also offer mortise marking wheels that can fit on any gage with 5/16" rods. (Shown on G-P Barrett).
351025351026
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A later patent in 1871 by Daniel Webster Simmonds has one large wheel at the end of a wooden beam.
351017
(Photo from DATAMP.ORG)
The one probably easiest to recognize would be the patent of 1888 by L.O. Barrett (#384,413). From what I can tell it was first made by C.E. Jennings and is not in either the 1907 or 1917 catalogs. An example on E-Bay has the original box and the seller says that the larger shaft has calibrations but the smaller one does not. Also, the longer shaft is about 3/8" in diameter while the shorter one is 5/16". It is marked on the end of the stock with the patent date. (Photo by Kathy Donnelly of greatcatalogue - used with permission)
351018
Most Barretts were made by Goodell-Pratt (started using the G-P name in 1898). They mostly made it in a two rod version but single and triple versions exist. All three versions have 5/16" diameter rods and the marking wheels rotate. All rods have graduations on them along with the Goodell-Pratt name. The rods vary in length from 8" to 4" to 3". One way they did not follow the patent is that there should be a recess for one of the marking wheels. The original patent also was just for a two rod version.
351020
The next version of the Barrett was made by the Leavitt Machine Company (and also be the Robbins & Cowles Company). It was patented in Dec. 04, 1894 and while similar to the earlier model, it uses a different clamping mechanism. It also has 11/16" diameter rods, 8" and 4" long each with graduations only on the 8" one. The wheels also rotate.
351022
Stanley had a bunch of models with single or double rods. Many have a rotating wheel on one end and a pin on the other.
351023
The Model 98 is an all metal version with two wheels and two pins. The wheels have a recess to fully retract them. The rods are 6 3/4" long by 5/16" diameter and have graduations.
351024
Lee Valley (Veritas) has several models of wheel type marking gages. Some have a micro-adjust. Most have a 5/16" diameter rod (no graduations) 8" long. These differ from the earlier ones in that the marking wheels do not rotate and the edge is a single bevel. (The earlier ones all rotate and have double bevels.)
The smaller "Pocket Marking Gage" has a 1/4" rod that is 4 1/2" long. The wheel itself is also smaller than the earlier models that were typically .375"
L_V also offer mortise marking wheels that can fit on any gage with 5/16" rods. (Shown on G-P Barrett).
351025351026
More in next post