Mystery tool

[Dave H (MI)]

I posted this on Tool Talk and it seems to have us all guessing. Anyone here have an idea what this is? More info on the Tool thread.

 

[IHRON]

Back in the day, this would hold a scale on a large layout table. On the table may be a large casting, which would be leveled, marked with layout blue, and checked for machine stock. The layout man would use a surface gage with a pointer/scriber to mark the casting, centering machine stock on bores etc, and providing machine operator with starting points. He would use the scale to pickup his reference dimensions. I worked in machine work 44 yrs. Have a friend that did this work on the large Cooper Bessemer engines.

 

[RCP]

I also worked at Cooper Bessemer in Grove City PA.

 

[John Garner]

I concur; you have an adjustable-height holder for either 1) a long steel rule, or 2) an optical-tooling scale.

The height adjustment feature allows the steel rule or optical-tooling scale to be adjusted so that its zero is at an easy-to-bookkeep height with respect to the workpiece.

It's a very handy tool when laying-out or inspecting a large casting or weldment.

 

[IHRON]

RCP, Do you still live near Grove City? I am 25 miles north.