Gentle Ones;

Dave Sawyer asks about a Lufkin rule marked:

>>Not sure, but I have a Lufkin no 7122 marked on the back:

N.Y.C & PENNA.
SERIAL NO. E2
APPROVED TYPE

I asked about it a few months ago and no one knew.  I thought it was
railroad related, but I guess there never was a NYC and Penn railroad.<<

WHat Dave's asking is not entirely true.  In the late 60's / early 70's when 
both the Pennsylvania RR (giant mother of an Eastern rail-line with tens of 
thousands of miles of right of way, Jeff) & the NY Central (almost equally 
behemoth-like rail carrier, Jeff) were going snuff-a-ways, they merged into 
the Penn Central.  But this likely doesn't have a thing to do with the rule.

However, the rule was likely made for use by both Pennsy & NY Central and was 
marked as being approved by both.  Since both RR's had big operations in the 
NY City metro area with freight & passenger terminals in the city proper 
(Penn Station, long since torn down & replaced by dreck and Grand Central 
Station, recently refurbished & looking as snappy as ever) and also had 
repair yards and facilities in the area, merchants in that region, such as 
Hammacher Schlemmer & others would likely have supplied tools to both 
railroads.  It made good sense to have a rule that was approved by both, so 
they could ensure stock on hand and 'keep an edge' over the other rule guys.  
That is what I'm thinking.  Kind of a neat find, especially if you know any 
rail buffs (although most are staunchly in either the Pennsy or NYCentral 
camp and might turn a nose up at a 'dual use' item).

So there you have it.  Hey how 'bout that, two rule questions in one day for 
me - Ed Minch's rag trade rule question earlier & this one.....  and I don't 
even collect rules...  no sir, not me - I've only got about 20, which as you 
fine fellows & gals know, doesn't even scratch the surface for a 
collection....  at least that's what I tell SWMBO.

Enjoy!!!

Matt Glass - lurching closer to finishing da bench in Nukeville & the proud 
new owner of the most amazingly figured piece of 1/4 sawn white oak (meep, 
meep!!)