Brown & Sharpe for the most part, copied the basic ideas of Starrett after the patents ran out. The quality is good, and they made a wide range of offerings. Like Starrett, they are still in business today. Below is a picture of three different sizes. The common size (12") is at the bottom with two heads, a hardened and a regular. In the middle is a 9" set, and at the top is the large size. Note that all three use different widths of rulers and also use different grab hooks.

Brown & Sharpe 1.jpg

Next are two protractor heads, a 9" and a 12". Note the look very similar. The stocks (or main body) are the same. The difference is in the center protractor. When they cut the groove for the rule to fit in, the 9" wasn't cut as deep or as wide. Also, the grab hooks are different lengths and won't work with the other rules. These are early ones with a two-part stock. They are pinned and screwed for alignment. This is also a weak point that can easily be broken. Later castings are one piece like most others.

Brown & Sharpe 2.jpgBrown & Sharpe 3.jpgB&S 9 Inch Protractor 1.jpgB&S 9 Inch Protractor 2.jpgB&S 9 Inch Protractor 3.jpg

Brown & Sharpe made these in both reversable and non-reversable by simply not using the plate.

J.S. Chafee patented a center head for Brown & Sharpe June 29, 1937 (#2085461). This center head has the unique feature of two screws that align the rule to the center head. Besides allowing for manufacturing inconsistencies, this head can be offset to either side of the rules edge. Whether using a knife or wide pencil to mark , the line can now be centered. Brown & Sharpe also made center heads without the screws. The three heads shown below are only different in the markings. All the have the paten number, the center one is also hardened.

B&S Center Heads.jpg


Part 4 will cover Combination Squares from Goodell-Pratt and Millers Falls