Woodworker's Journal 2004-28-4, страница 20

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Level Heads Solve Mystery

What's

This?

If you have your own wood work ing vtyste ry to'jl (or the answer to this issue's entry), send it to Stumpers, c/o Wooduorktr's Journal, P.O. Box 261, Medina, Minnesota 55340. O*" ser.d us an e-mail:

/totes® woodworkcrsjoumal.czm

A Survey of History

'Hie | mystery toolj of April 2004 is a miniature level. My dad used it in conjunction with straightedges of various lengths tu establish a level between two distance pointers. 'Hie unit was fixed on the straightedge by tabs located on tiie side of each end and retained by the slotted head screw. I remember seeing my dad use it for determining levels on woven wire fence. He also used it as a surveying instrument

Dad helped survey the Canadian River channel between Oklahoma and Texas City before he honiesleaded ii. Oklahoma in 1906.1 surmise that i> where he obtained the level.

— Dr. John Sellers Clayton. New Mexico

Many Level Heads

John's dad wasn't the only one who knew the lay of the land when it came to identifying the tool belonging to Joe Wilkinson of Happy Camp, California. It is, in fact, a level, and we heard about various uses for it from readers like Janet Taylor of Brighton, Michigan, who said. "My dad said they used to hive one on his farm and used it to level the threshing machine," and George Rebarchek of Deighton. Kansas, who wrote "it allows you to not only use it as a level, but to get pitches on roo.'s, eic."

Technically, though, it is "a pocket level," we heard frcm Kathleen Wakeley of

Handy to keep in your pockct — or to clamp to a square — the mystery tool from April can lielp tu keep things plumb.

Danville, Illinois, and others "It may be attached lo a framing square with the thumbscrew shown on the side of the piece," explained Willis C. Davis of Wayne, Nebraska. He continued, "'lite screw holds the level parallel to the framing square and transforms the square into a level that can be usee on-site to level or make plumb whatever it is that the person is building."

"It can also be used on the short edge of a carpcntcr's square as a plumb when the Ion? edge is he'd against a wall or door," added Barbara Jeffers of VoorheesviJe, New York.

"A carpenter does not have to carry a large level in his toolbox," noted Ron Hubay of Northwood, Ohio: "Just

attach the pocket level to tin square with the set screw."

"Stanley Tools anr others manufactured" the pocket levels, noted Martin Seitz of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, with "most of the Stanley ones made from about the I8(y)s to the 1950s." In 1908, added II.P. Gensler of KarsasCity. Missouri, "Sears Roebuck sold them for eight cents."

Of course, some readers, like Michael Clayton of Bakers field, California, have not relegated their level to the past "I use it frequently," Michael tells us, "since it can be easily attached or detached and stores in my pocket, saving ne trips up and down the ladder with a ktrger level."

—Joanr.a Werch Takes & _/

WINNER! i)r. J Con rtla nd Robinson of Steve?;son, Maryland,

wvts a Delta AP07S Dust Collection Table. We toss ell the Stumpers letters into a hat to select a winner.

20

August 2004 Woodworker's Journal

Jon Phillips from Buena Park, California sent In the tool above. The numbers 605.29530 appear in the groove. Any crafty ideas on what it is? Send in your answer for a chance to win a prize!