OldTools Archive
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121260 | Chris Berger <toolroom@i...> | 2003‑08‑27 | Re: Back Again |
Jim Asked: Does anyone have a catalogue that shows > the Rule # 8151 and if so would you let me know what this is for? > I have really enjoyed being part of this group and just want a rocking chair > in a back corner where I can hear the gossip. > Thanks for all the good times I have had reading the postings. > > Jim Ketcheson > Belleville, Canada Hi Jim, welcome back! I have Lufkin catalog # 104 here. I can't find a year on it, but my guess is about 1930 - 1945. It lists #8151 as a "Taylor's curve stick". I believe these were used to measure the distance between the floor and the bottom of the hem of a lady's dress. Hope this helps. Glad to have a spry and active Galoot like you on the list! Chris |
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121258 | "Jim Ketcheson" <jim.ketcheson@s...> | 2003‑08‑27 | Back Again |
I have been away for some months now and recently felt well enough to resubscribe to Old Tools. I looked at my bio from 5 years ago and there have been some changes made. I am now 85 instead of 80 - I no longer have a wood shop having moved everything to my son's shop where he is starting a wood working business. I have retained only my metal working tools. About an hour a day is all I can handle in the shop but that is a start back. Open heart surgery and then later a pacemaker and then the rehab is what kept me away. I have just found ( at a yard sale) a rule made by the Lufkin Rule Co. of Saginaw, Mich. the like of which I have never seen. It is 2 foot long and has a real curve throughout it's length. The Number on it is 8151 and is stamped made in U.S.A. The only info I can find on the web is that Lufkin were bought out by the Cooper Group. Does anyone have a catalogue that shows the Rule # 8151 and if so would you let me know what this is for? I have really enjoyed being part of this group and just want a rocking chair in a back corner where I can hear the gossip. Thanks for all the good times I have had reading the postings. Jim Ketcheson Belleville, Canada |
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121259 | reeinelson@w... (Bob Nelson) | 2003‑08‑27 | Re: Back Again |
Hi Jim & All, Welcome back!! I don't know about the Lufkin 8151 specifically, but there were other curved rules sold and used as tailoring rules. Is it thin satinwood or boxwood? If so, that would strengthen the case for it being a tailor's rule. Best Wishes, Bob |
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121272 | "Roger Birkhead" <birkhrd@a...> | 2003‑08‑28 | Re: Back Again |
Welcome back Jim. As a young galoot that grew up too far away from his Grandpa (he died in 1996 right before I joined the list) I appreciate having a bunch of surrogate grandpa's" looking over my shoulder" and answering questions when I need. Haven't you noticed how we have you guys spaced out across the porch so you can keep an eye on us whippersnappers? Seriously the knowledge some of you guys pass on is more appreciated than you know! Roger in Alabama >>> "Jim Ketcheson" |
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121274 | Chris Berger <toolroom@i...> | 2003‑08‑28 | Re: Back Again |
Steve asked: > >> I have Lufkin catalog # 104 here. I can't find a year on it, but my guess is >> about 1930 - 1945. It lists #8151 as a "Taylor's curve stick". I believe >> these were used to measure the distance between the floor and the bottom of >> the hem of a lady's dress. >> > > Why curved? > I don't really know Stave. I do have two others that are curved, and I do not think these were made by Lufkin. So,one answer would be "tradition" that would appeal to tailors preferences. There are straight tailor's sticks or measures, as well as several other curved shapes that I know of. If we look at other tools like chisels, saws, axes to name a few during the 1800's and early 1900's we see tremendous variety within groups of functionally equivalent tools. The only reason I can see for this that businesses tried to use product variety as a way to compete for the craftsman's business. If others have additional ideas, I would enjoy hearing them. Chris (Who'd better get to work!) |
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121271 | "Steve Reynolds" <stephenereynolds@e...> | 2003‑08‑28 | Re: Back Again |
Jim told us how tools are keeping him young, and asked about a rule, to which Chris replied: > Hi Jim, welcome back! > Yeah, what he said. > I have Lufkin catalog # 104 here. I can't find a year on it, but my guess is > about 1930 - 1945. It lists #8151 as a "Taylor's curve stick". I believe > these were used to measure the distance between the floor and the bottom of > the hem of a lady's dress. > Why curved? Regards, Steve |
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121281 | reeinelson@w... (Bob Nelson) | 2003‑08‑28 | Re: Back Again |
Hi Chris & All Chris opines about why some tailors rules were curved and why there were so many different types. I only have a guess about the former, but do know a bit more about the latter. I had quite a few different types of tailor's rules, squares, etc., in my collection and did some research on several of them. Plus I've also seem many more for sale that I didn't have. I concluded that there were over 100 different types of tailoring "systems" created and patented or copyrighted in the late 1800 - early 1900 time frame. Each such system had some unique type of rule at its heart and was the main thing that the system creator made any money off of. But I don't know that a curved rule was part of any such system and suspect it might predate the big rash of those. I'd always assumed that some parts of a dress or such had curves in the fabric and the curved rule was used to measure around that curve. I don't recall/think that they'd give you a straight line reading (like a hem to floor dimension) - only a reading around the arc of a curve. Best Wishes, Bob |
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121288 | Trevor Robinson <robinson@n...> | 2003‑08‑28 | Re: Back Again |
Hi, Jim and All It's nice to find someone older than me on this list! My Lufkin Catalog No. 11 (probably from about 1930) says that No. 8151 is a "curved stick used in tailoring work." For more, you'll have to ask a tailor, if they still exist outside of Hong Kong. Trevor |
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121307 | "Daniel E.L. Yurwit" <dyurwit@c...> | 2003‑08‑28 | Re: Back Again |
Hi All, I'm no tailor (I'm not even more than a half-decent woodworker), but I did grow up in a family with more than its share of garment workers and sweat-shop denizens. If you take a look at the shape of the sleeve inset on your suit jacket (although, if you're like me, you haven't seen touched one of those at least since last fall), you'll see one of the uses for Jim's curved ruler. The garment trade had many specialized tools that turn up at flea markets and even at antique tool shows, and usually make wonderful "what's-its." Dan, in NJ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Trevor Robinson" |
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