For those with a precision tool bent (Yes John, I am referring to you), I have a
not quite gloat.

I had a little time this morning- well, actually, I was avoiding paperwork- and
the weather was nice, so I went fleabagging. The gods of Stochastic behaviour
were smiling, and I stumbled upon a very, very old machinist box, being parted
out. Among the cache were the common (which I passed over as they would be
duplicate for me and the wallet is light these days) Starrett 298 key seat
clamps, Starrett 299 rule clamp, low profile hold-downs for milling machines,
surface gauge bases, Starrett 196-first generation- and 64, and so on (really, I
had to pass on all of this as duplicates out of my budget), I found additions to
my historical inside micrometer study (not collection.... really. It is academic
study.... I swear)

I already had in hand several Sawyer (Fitchburg, Mass) 144 (1-1/2" at the
smallest with 1/2" travel) heads, but I came to a No. 142 head, unfortunately
with no rods- the original sets had three or five, each covering 1-1/2"- and a
No. 140 with three of the four original rods.

https://postimg.cc/KRM34zKQ

Note that the 140 and 142 use graduated rods that telescope in the head in the
same vein as a Starrett 121 long range micrometer (still made) or Starrett 120
(out of production since the 1930's in deference to the 124- the current 120 is
a caliper) inside micrometer.

I have NEVER seen a 140 or a 142 in the wild, not even on the assorted auction
sites.

I spent WAY too much time looking for the missing rods in the kit, but, alas,
they were not there. Somewhere, there is someone gloating about the rare,
antique, cylindrical rulers they found, and all I can do is hope they show up on
line.

Oh well. I use the  144 at times, and the 140 may be useful as it is. I can make
up further extensions (probably an additional 10". 20", and maybe 40" to get a
max of 93"), +/- 0.0005" should be sufficient for each at those ranges), as the
parts I have are suitable from 13" to 23".  Calibrated setup is non-obvious, but
I have the appropriate standards, and it can be done before inserting the
extensions if they are in calibration.

I am not sure it is worth the effort to make the graduated rods (for the 142 and
140), though. Then again, I am not well.

I also picked up a B&S button caliper (No. 397) from the same kit, and a few
other oddities. The button caliper is graduated in button ligne (40 to the
international inch... not French ligne-- 0.0888 inch, or 12 to the French inch--
or British line, or.....)


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