Comments on: Collecting Gages, Precision Tools Plus One Special Indicator

By: The Dean

The Dean — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:06:15 +0000

Joseph,
As an old gage salesman and having sold to companies like Harley, Briggs, Tecumseh, Polaris, Mercury, OMC, Johnson, Waukesha Engine, Fairbanks Morse and Excelsior Henderson I’ve seen my share of cylinders of all sizes.

Your gage is a B3FP-3 with changeable contacts for a range of 2.750″ to 6.250 using seven different part numbers. To confirm the gage number that you have check the thread size, it should be a 10-32.

The ranges would be PT-52, 2.750-3.250″ and PT-53, 3.250-3.750″
3 contacts are needed for this type of gage. The cost of each is under $20.00 from Mahr Federal.

The gage is obsolete but the indicator, if needed, can also be replaced. The replacement for this gage is a model 1243P-3 and no longer in the current catalog but is still being made.

This gage is a comparator and the need for a master ring at the size your trying to measure is vital, it does not have enough linear motion to master at one size and measure at another.

Thanks for sharing your pictures of the equipment you have, in another posting from some time back, I discussed several companies that display old machinery in their entrance lobby. Harley has a lathe in theirs and at two die casters show machines in their lobbies.

I hope this information is useful.
The Dean

By: The Dean

The Dean — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:11:11 +0000

Joseph,
Sounds Like you want to be able to use the gage. Over the years Federal made several different types of bore gages. Some parts may still be interchangeable. Can you send a digital pix of the gage, the indicator face, the moving end of the gage and the contacts if removable. Does it have three moving contacts or one fixed with a lever movement on bottom? If a contact is removable please tell me the thread size, normally a 4-48, but may be larger, also the contact length without the thread, and the diameter. Please send the info even if you do send a pix.
Lets see what I can do.

Oh! thanks for reading my posting and continue to enjoy Collectors’ Quest.
The Dean

By: Joseph Johnston

Joseph Johnston — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:42:44 +0000

I have a cylinder dial bore guage. It has this info onthe back cover of guage;;;;FEDERAL CYLINDER TEST GUAGE;; patented, FED 3, 1920;; Federal Products Corp ;; Providence , R.I., USA ;; NO. 2608. I bought these tools from an old Indian Dealership. Also have an antique boring bar complete with tooling which sees daily use. Back to MR. dial bore guage, Does any one know if there are replacement pins so it will measurea larger hole. now it is to big to go in a 3 inch cylinder and to small to measure a 3 and one half inch cylinder I.D.. Anyone heard of this fine tool; Thanks for any help I get. J. Johnston.

By: The Dean

The Dean — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:14:44 +0000

Mike,
Thank you for reading and responding to my posting on Collectors Quest.
Yes I did find the article interesting. I question some of what was in the article but it was written so long ago. The Webber gage block company is now owned by Starrett and priced beyond comparison but still a favorite with some of my customers. Mitutoyo owns most of the business in the US. C. E. Johansson Company located in Europe, making gage block sets and dial comparators were sold through Federal Products in the US for many years until Mahr bought Federal. Another manufacturer in the US was Continental out of Minnesota.

The Dean

By: Mike A.

Mike A. — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:29:08 +0000

You might find this article about JO blocks and Ford interesting.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,851192,00.html

By: plug gages

plug gages — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:51:04 +0000

Cool Stuff! Thanks for reading my article, As you can see from my writing, my plug gages collecting has been narrowed to very old items that have the potential of increasing in value over time. In gages I look for the most unusual pieces, especially branded dial indicators.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:03:50 +0000

I have 2 Ford Johansson Gages, they are a 5 piece set going from 1in to 0.0625in with a case, and they are in like new condition. they have C. E. Johansson Ford Dearborn stamped on the 1″ and CEJ Ford on the 0.500″ and Johansson, Ford stamped on the side of the other 3 blocks. One set have SHOW and a 3 digit number on the back of the 2 large ones. the case has Ford Johansson Gages on the cover, do you have any ideal what I have.

Thanks Ed

By: The Dean

The Dean — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:55:20 +0000

Mark,
I am always interested in old gages and precision hand tools. Please provide me with some sort of list or email me some pictures of what you have. I’m such a nut on these old things but my wife can’t complain too much since my collections are but a pup compared to hers.
The Dean

By: Mark Salisbury

Mark Salisbury — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:57:47 +0000

Sir,
My father was a tool and die maker for 35 yrs. and has a chest of tools he used only at work. He passed away this past February after 22 yrs of retirement. Some of these tools would be over 55 years old. Wondering if you might be interested in providing them a good home. If you needed I can provide brand names if necessary. Thanks, Mark

By: The Dean

The Dean — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:13:30 +0000

Leon,
I have your answer.
27S is a 6.5 to 6.75 Snap Gage

27-SP is a 6.5 to 6.75 Spline Snap Gage

The snap you have might be mounted on a stand, and the part would have been place into the snap jaws. If the gage has a ball or pin attached to the anvil, it would have been used to measure a spline pitch diameter.

Best Regards
The Dean

By: The Dean

The Dean — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:42:19 +0000

Leon.
thank you for finding my posting on Collectors Quest. I have gone through my files for Boice gages and all I have are the gages that Federal made when they bought Boice. I have contacts in Poughkeepsie and Providence and might be able to find out the function of a #27.

By: Leon

Leon — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:52:37 +0000

Dean:

I came across a Boice No. 27 gage of some kind among the surplue gages I bought. It is not a bore gage. I am bewildered as to its use and function — I cannot make head nor tail of it. If I was able to get you pictures (I have them), could you see if you know what the darned thing is? I have googled it and came up dry except for you website. It stands on a base like a height gage.

Leon

By: The Dean

The Dean — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:07:21 +0000

Jerry,

Sorry, I’m told the archives do not go back that far at Brown & Sharpe. A source I have in Illinois may help, I’ll try another way.
Best Regards
The Dean

By: The Dean

The Dean — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:50:20 +0000

Jerry,
I have a friend who knows a friend who might know someone.
I just sent an email asking if anyone is old enough to remember how to adjust a #47. The last time I asked about the age of a gage based on its style, I worded the request wrong and it sounded as if my friend was old enough to remember an item that was pre WW II. She still gets me on that one.
Please hang on and I’ll get back to you.

Best Regards
The Dean

By: The Dean

The Dean — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:48:19 +0000

Ryan,
I know the picture in the blog was bad but I do have a Lufkin 199A with the zero at center and the movement in two directions.
I really appreciate the offer, and that is a good price for such a neat item.

Best Regards
The Dean

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:13:30 +0000

Dean- I have a Lufkin 199A indicator in excellent condition, with the attachment swivel on it. I would like to sell it for $35, do you have any interest? Ryan

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:29:40 +0000

Hi Dean,
Is there anywhere 0nline that I could access adjustment procedure for an old Brown & Sharpe # 47 1-2″ micrometer.
Thank you in advance,
Jerry

By: The Dean

The Dean — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 02:04:44 +0000

Thank you for your interest in Collectors Quest and reading my article on precision tools and gage collectibles.

Collectors Quest has recently added a “Market Place”, where our community members can sell their items or purchase from other collectors. One only needs to click on the link above, log in and click “Create a Listing” on the right. Simple walk through instructions will guide you through the process of loading a title, picture and description of your items. Have the pictures, description (including size, age, flaws, manufacturer, country of origin and weight if heavy), selling prices and shipping costs planned ahead of listing for your convenience. Decide if you would consider an offer as an option to your selling price.
Above the “Create a Listing” box is the “How Much Is It Worth” link for an appraisal of your item.
As an alternative for selling a collection such as yours, might I suggest contacting several antique malls in your area. Many malls have consignment spaces and will work with you on selling your collection. Some malls will prefer to buy your items outright, or can direct you to a known dealer in your type of collection. Please remember this option will result in a sale at wholesale prices.

Please continue to view and enjoy Collectors’ Quest
Best Regards
The Dean
Staff Writer
noegretsantiques@sbcglobal.net

By: Craig Mirkin

Craig Mirkin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:34:24 +0000

I have a complete set of Johansson blocks metric in wooden case my father liberated in WWII. 111 blocks. There is aplate on the inside of the box that says;
aktiebolaget C. E. Johansson eskiluna schweden kat.nr M1AA geprupt 20c 41943 qualitat. What do I have here,is it worth anything and can I sell it somewhere? Thanks Craig Mirkin

By: The Dean

The Dean — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:32:32 +0000

Tony B,
Thank you for your responce to my block on precision tool collecting.
At one time companies had their logos on many types of equipment to cut down on pilfering.
C. E. Johansson of Sweden made some of the finest gage block sets and Mikrokator comparators, many in this country were sold through Federal Products. The set you describe sounds great. Because of calibration requirements today, your set would be worth little to a tool maker. As I mentioned, the Ford gage block I purchased at an Indiana flea market was in a box of other blocks, gage balls, a small transfer stand and a couple of test indicators all for the price of $10.00. You mention some blocks are missing but many of the sets I see in factories have slots for extra blocks, called wear blocks, but if a slot in the middle of the set is missing, its missing. A normal inch set has 81pcs.
Not being an appraiser, I’m not sure what the set in a wood box if complete might be worth, and it would greatly depend if the logo is on the box and its condition. If sold separately at a vintage car swap meet with lots of Fords displayed, they might bring $5-7 per block especially away from an area with older Ford plants.
Best Regards
The Dean