Any love for the bevel gauge (sliding T bevel) here?

quattro_sinko · Mar 11, 2017

I own more than a few old/vintage bevel gauges, but have never seen one this large (so I bought it.) Not much information online about large (or extra large) bevel gauges. This one has "J Smith" branded into the handle, but I'm not sure if that's an owner or manufacturer mark.

Can anyone shed a little light?

Thanks in advance.

crguy · Mar 11, 2017

quattro_sinko said:
I own more than a few old/vintage bevel gauges, but have never seen one this large (so I bought it.) Not much information online about large (or extra large) bevel gauges. This one has "J Smith" branded into the handle, but I'm not sure if that's an owner or manufacturer mark.

Can anyone shed a little light?

Thanks in advance.

Stanley made similar bevel gauges in 5 sizes. Yours should be marked on the blade towards the end. It doesn't have the typical Stanley locking nut, so may not be theirs.
The name in the wood is an owners mark.

quattro_sinko · Mar 11, 2017

I think whatever locking nut there was sheared off, from the looks of it. The blade is pitted, and no marks that I can see, I'll look again. Thanks for the information. Do you know off hand what sizes Stanley made? I've seen many of the standard sizes, but nothing over 10 or 12"

rlitman · Mar 11, 2017

That's a monster alright. I've seen them that big, but that size is pretty uncommon.
I can't say I've ever had a need for one that big. I'd be using a framers square, perhaps with trammel stops on it instead.

I'm really partial to my Stanley cast iron bevel gauge with the locking knob on the end. Like this (not my picture):

I just used it extensively to build a ladder for a loft bed.

quattro_sinko · Mar 11, 2017

I found an aluminum version of the one in your picture laying in the middle of a country road, no one for miles, about 20 years ago. I use it every day.

Here are a few more that I have within reach, next to the monster (for scale):

2oolhound · Mar 11, 2017

That is nice. That's a timber framer's size. You'd be hard pressed to find wood big enough for that one these days.

ttpete · Mar 11, 2017

I have a little steel Lufkin, about 4". It's a #67.

Roberts210 · Mar 11, 2017

I've got several matching Stanley's from the 1920's with perfect rosewood handles. I do use them, but have a beat-up Stanley from the same era I carry in my truck.

Topfuel55 · Mar 11, 2017

I'm going though a bunch of tools and came across this bevel gauge. After some steel wool and a good inspection, I couldn't find any names or part numbers. It's really well made and just enough rough spots to make me belive it was hand made. I guessing maybe a school shop project (remember shop class?). To me it makes this priceless to me. Then makes me wonder, when it was made, who made it, how did I end up with it? I wonder about the shop class and the instructor, and did he have as much impact as my shop teachers? All I know is as long as I'm around this guy will be safe in my shop, and will be handed to friends who"get it", to be shared as a reminder of where we came from.
Thanks!

quattro_sinko · Mar 12, 2017

Topfuel55 said:
...Then makes me wonder, when it was made, who made it, how did I end up with it? I wonder about the shop class and the instructor, and did he have as much impact as my shop teachers? All I know is as long as I'm around this guy will be safe in my shop, and will be handed to friends who"get it", to be shared as a reminder of where we came from.
Thanks!

Love it. Virtually all of the vintage tools that I acquire, hand made or mass -produced, whisper to me with hints of their past.

I very much prefer using vintage marking and measuring tools over 90% of what's commercially available today. Between the history imbued (and imagined) and the better overall quality, I will always go vintage.

Duker · Mar 12, 2017

rlitman said:
That's a monster alright. I've seen them that big, but that size is pretty uncommon.
I can't say I've ever had a need for one that big. I'd be using a framers square, perhaps with trammel stops on it instead.

I'm really partial to my Stanley cast iron bevel gauge with the locking knob on the end. Like this (not my picture):

I just used it extensively to build a ladder for a loft bed.

That's is my favorite version as well as you can flip it over and not have to worry about the locking lever. Surprisingly for me, I have used my bevel gauge more in my metal work than I have for furniture. I am building a large oversized version for my dad for his birthday as more of a novelty than for actual use but it will be functional.

quattro_sinko · Mar 12, 2017

rlitman and Duker, I agree, having the locking mechanism at the bottom of the handle makes for a more versatile tool. Here's a picture (ebay photo, not mine...mine's on-site) of the Stanley 46-800 I found decades ago, and use nearly daily:

GreenMars · Feb 16, 2023

Wow! That is the biggest Bevel gage I have ever seen! I am gonna have to keep an eye out for one of them! I found this thread while researching what appears to be a rare, old Stanley bevel gauge.

Cleave · Feb 17, 2023

That's a really big bevel gauge. I have a moderately big one, maybe 12" in the blade, plus a couple normal sized ones.
One is from my grandpa's estate, and has initials on it that could be from HIS grandpa. There's a good chance that bevel gauge was used to build the old barn at my grandpa's place. I was about 10 years old when he and the fire department did a controlled burn on that barn.

ElBrooklyn · May 25, 2023

Don’t want to hijack your thread, but I’m in the same situation. Came across this 24-inch beast a few weeks ago. Can’t figure out why anyone would need something this big…. No maker or owner marks. Nothing on the blade.

Cleave · May 26, 2023

That's a huge bevel gauge! Probably for timber framing, though I'd think a framing square could meet most of those needs, but maybe the bevel is just a bit more efficient for repeated work.

WisJim · May 30, 2023

Here are some of mine. My biggest is only a foot long. I think it might be a Disston.

d42jeep · Jun 24, 2023

I found this one yesterday at an estate sale and cleaned it up today.
-Don

WisJim · Jun 25, 2023

Don, I don't recall seeing that style of Stanley with a knurled nut to tighten it--all of mine have a wing nut. Does it have any patent dates or other info, maybe on the blade?

d42jeep · Jun 25, 2023

It‘s the first one I’ve seen with the knurled knob as well. The only markings are this part number.
-Don

RTM · Jun 25, 2023

d42jeep said:
It‘s the first one I’ve seen with the knurled knob as well. The only markings are this part number. Edit, pix said 18TB

Nice going. Thought it looked aluminum in your first pic. Never knew they existed

Stanley No 18TB Bevel in Original Box - Welcome To Olde Trade Tools

This is an aluminum version of the No 18 bevel. It also has New Britain, CT on the box and must have been one of the last pieces they made […]

oldetradetools.com

d42jeep · Jun 25, 2023

A few more from my S-K carpenter’s box.
-Don

driftpin · Jun 25, 2023

I have a couple, nothing oversize, and both bought new, as best as I can recall. They make an easy thing out of doing some non-standard angles work. The oldest is about 50 years old.

Mike'smeatshop · Jun 25, 2023

Have to show mine. Twix are for Kids. And not sure of the other Universal Bevel. My eyes are so bad. I was looking up Timex Bevels.

d42jeep · Jun 25, 2023

Here are my General and Craftsman. Likely made in the same factory.
-Don

2oolhound · Jul 1, 2023

When I built log buildings in the 70's and 80's I used a square with about a 3" degree dial on it to mark the dovetail corner notch angles. This was a fairly cheap newish tool that had just come out. I don't have it anymore and I couldn't find a photo of it on google but I've seen them in the isles of harware stores fairly recently.

Had that tool not been available one of these 24" sliding bevel tools would have been the go to, but if it had a bubble level built in, it would have been perfect. To use one the way it is would require you to 1st draw a line using a level that you would aline the base on, then draw the angle line off of the blade.

I can see this tool being useful among glaziers as well for cutting odd angles on stained glass windows etc.

isb cornbinder · Jul 1, 2023

quattro_sinko said:
I own more than a few old/vintage bevel gauges, but have never seen one this large (so I bought it.) Not much information online about large (or extra large) bevel gauges. This one has "J Smith" branded into the handle, but I'm not sure if that's an owner or manufacturer mark.

Can anyone shed a little light?

Thanks in advance.

I have 5 bevel gauges, possibly more. One is a STARRETT. My favorite might be the home made bevel gauge with the rows of holes to lighten the tool.

d42jeep · Jun 14, 2024

Here is a bevel I found as part of an antique woodworking tool lot at a garage sale on Saturday. The screw was frozen and the blade was pretty rusty. The evaporust helped quite a bit with the rust and my old Vessel hand impact and BFH freed up the screw.
-Don
Before

After

d42jeep · Jun 23, 2024

I found a much more modern bevel yesterday. It’s a Stanley with the control knob on the end. It cleaned up really well.

-Don

Any love for the bevel gauge (sliding T bevel) here?

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

New member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Member

Well-known member

Member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member