Bill Giho asked about Stephens No 31 bevel
> I picked up a twelve-inch, double-bevel rule marked "Stephens & Co.,
> Riverton, CT" and "No. 31". It has nice brass bolsters at each end and the
> brass bevel arms are 4 and 6 3/4 inches long. This must be the Stephens who
> eventually became part of Chaplin-Stephens, but web surfing did not produce
> much info on this company. Here is what I have found on Stephens:
>
> Lorenzo Case Stephens (b. 1809, d. 1871) started Stephens & Co., Riverton,
> CT in 1828 and was succeeded in it by his son Deloss H. Stephens (b. 1837,
> d. 1919). In 1901 they became part of Chapin-Stephens. By implication, the
> L.C. was dropped from the company name after his death. They also made wood
> planes, having bought the Phoenix Co. (makers of wood planes from
> 1853-1865) in 1864. Prior to 1853 the Phoenix Co. was known as A. & A.
> Alford & Co. (or Alfred Alford Plane Co., 1849-1853), makers of wood planes.
> This was a partnership of Alfred and Arba Alford. It was originally in
> Hitchcockville, but the town changed its name to Riverton sometime after
> 1865.
>
> Reading between the lines, the marking on my rule would put it after 1871
> (L.C.'s death) and before 1901 (merger w/ Chaplin), but I would like to
> narrow it down a bit more, if possible. The manufacturer's info on this
> piece is hand stamped - looks like a total of five stamps were used - so
> must be on the early side. Anybody have production years for the #31 rule?
> What uses were these rules marketed for?
I checked Phillip Stanley's book and his "Concordance of Major American Rule
Makers. Stephens No 31 was the equivalent to Stanley No 42: Double ship
carpenter's bevel. There are many odd and changing angles on the hull of a
wooden vessel (e.g. Where the ribs join the gunnels in the bow) and two
tongues were an advantage to the ship carpenter for marking out and cutting
compound angle joints.
According to P. Stanley, Lorenzo and Delos both worked for Hermon Chapin in
Pine Meadow, CT. They left Chapin and founded L.C. Stephens and son in 1854,
setting up shop in Pine Meadow. In 1861, Delos succeeded his father as head
of the firm, and the name was changed to D. H. Stephens & Co. In 1864 the Co
moved to Riverton, CT (8 miles away from Pine Meadow).
So, assuming Mr. Phillip Stanley is correct (and he is a very careful and
through researcher), your bevel was made sometime between 1864 (move to
Riverton) and 1901 when Chapin and Stephens merged.
Hope this helps. BTW, Phil Stanley's book (published 1984) is still an
excellent source of information. It appears from time to time on the bay.
Chris
in cold and sunny West Lafayette, IN
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