Small spirit level (pic)

[RPM]

Hi,

I have just been given a small level by my dad.
Does anyone know of it's use (apart from the obvious) :wink:

My dad says he got it from a bloke who used to work on conveyer machines,
Factory stuff etc... the name on it is "E Preston"

Is that its main use?

Thanks.

 

[Scrit]

Ooooooohhhhh!!!! Well it's old, because Edward Preston ceased trading in 1932 or thereabouts when they were taken over by Rabone's (Rabone-Chestermann, now part of Stanley). It appears to be a brass pocket level and depending on the size may be one of these

(from the Preston 1909 catalogue)

Scrit

 

[RPM]

Thanks for the info Scrit.

It looks like it may be the pocket level (top left of your pic).

They stopped trading in 1932! WOW!
I did a quick google search on it but seemed to keep getting a well know auction site.

Can you post a link for the 1909 ad?

Thanks again. :wink:

 

[Scrit]

There's no web site for that scan, I'm afraid, it is scanned from something in my library

Scrit

 

[CYC]

So what is it used for? Can be getting much of an accurate reading being so small!

I wouldn't mind seeing your library scrit :wink:

 

[houtslager]

:shock: BLOODY HENS TEETH SCRIT
HOW BIG IS your LIBRARY ?
I have still to unpack mine, 90% still in my container as
the house is a demo site and the workshop is still only
on the drawing paper :?

 

[dedee]

You know what always astounds me about the librarys that one or two people around here keep is not how big they are but how quickly they can find stuff! :shock:
There must be one helluva index system or a darn good memory at work here.

Andy

 

[NeilO]

got to agree, Dedee.....

I can put a screwdriver down and take a week to find it again :lol:

Scrit, you wouldnt have anything about Merlin machine company of Essex about their lathes in that vast extensive library of yours?? ie threads sizes please, please....

 

[Scrit]

Well, Reg Eaton sold me my first vintage plane in 1980 and Charles Stirling (Bristol Design) gave me an even bigger shove down the slope in the early 1980s so you could say I've been at it a long time...........

Neil I don't have much on lathes unless they were made by the woodworking machinery companies, but I'd suggest you might like to contact Tony Griffiths at http://www.lathes.co.uk/ He seems to have a fair knowledge of lathes, engineering and wood, and may be able to help you or put you onto someone who can

Scrit

 

[Alf]

There's no web site for that scan, I'm afraid, it is scanned from something in my library

This something, perchance?

Cheers, Alf

 

[Colin C]

Look what I found on the Bay

 

[Scrit]

This something, perchance?

Yes. I've had mine about 15 or so years, bought it from Roy Arnold about the same time as my P-TAMPIAs. The chances of getting an original Preston catalogue were about nil. I recall one of the dealers had one on offer back then, but it was..... expensive. The Astragal Press reprint is a good publication if you want to identify Preston's as they didn't seem to change the range that much from the early 20th century to their closure in the thirties. I have got some original catalogues as well, but mostly to do with machinery.

Oh, and no indexing system, just a (slightly flaky at times) retentive memory and in quite a few cases having seen/owned/played with/used in anger the tools/machines themselves.

Scrit

 

[Alf]

Yeah, I keep resisting buying a copy 'cos I know I can't afford a Preston Slope :lol: One day though, I'll probably succumb - and regret it... #-o

Cheers, Alf

 

[Scrit]

The worst thing about collecting Prestons is the number of "special orders" and one-offs they made. Want a ivory rule marked in Bob's and Inches with copper plated silver bindings and green engraved figures? No problem, sir! The only constant stuff seems to have been the cast planes range. They can be fun to collect, especially Preston's attempts at making alternatives to Stanley's Bailey designs all of which seem to be varied and short lived (and few of which appear in known catalogues).

Scrit

 

[RPM]

It looks like another for the attic then. 8)

I will let the kids sell it in 50yrs time,they might get £30 or so by then!

 

[Nigel]

I have an idea these were used in the engineering profession as I have my fathers old one in the wood cylinder case but without a makers name and one of the brass end caps is missing,
He then purchased a Starrett #130 level about the same size

My father was a tool maker but I used it for pedantic customers to prove the electrical sockets were level

Nigel