c, 1930's-40's Lufkin Radius Gage Set No. 77C

Private Lugnutz · Apr 30, 2018

This is my small haul from the flea market last Saturday.

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See the maroon leatherette snap pouch on top of the grimey OD green WWI M1916 Squad Leader’s canvas pouch, center left?

It’s a c. 1930’s-40’s Lufkin No. 77C Radius Gage set, otherwise known as a fillet gage set, complete, in near-mint NOS condition, in its original leatherette pouch.

It was first patented (1,797,279) in March 1931, which can be seen in full on the USPTO site here, followed up with another improvement patent (1,825,987) in October 1931, which can be seen on the USPTO site here. Both patent numbers are printed on the back of the pouch, but only the latter patent number is etched into each gage. The gages are still frozen in time inside the protective films they were shipped in. I removed the film on the 1/2” gage for one of the photos.

I found a good image and description of it in Lufkin Catalog No. 7, dated 1947, and included some pages from that below as well.

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454ragtop · Apr 30, 2018

Cool set Lugz, pretty sure I have the same one, though my case isn't as nice. It seems to be getting a little crumbly and hard.

Private Lugnutz · Apr 30, 2018

It's a shame with any of the imitation leather pouches. Once they start deteriorating, there's really nothing that can be done to stop or fix it. I have really ratty ignition and mini punch sets. Even this one I won't want to open and close too often.

leg17 · May 1, 2018

FWIW
I picked up a set like this and the cellophane wrappers had deteriorated and stained the gages. Yours still look fairly clean.

Private Lugnutz · May 1, 2018

Thanks, leg. The cellophane has yellowed, but that has not yet transferred to the steel. I was contemplating whether to remove them all or not. I hate to remove NOS packaging, but I might have to in this case.

Private Lugnutz · Jul 9, 2020

We don't have a general Lufkin thread, so I am tacking this on here. Picked it up at the flea market this morning. NOS. As in still sealed never opened before NOS. Some guy had a bunch of NOS Lufkin stuff. Scribers, dial indicators, inside micrometers, etc. I was in a rush or I probably would've fine toothed it and bought more. These are the "D" size adjustable parallels (15/16" to 1-5/16"). There's a second, later patent on the Nox-Rust Vapor Wrapper ("Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor"), but the one I can read (2,521,311) dates to 1950. I don't want to ru9n the wrapper on the marked side. Guessing the number (7-54) on the returns chit is probably a date.

Private Lugnutz · Jul 9, 2020

Catalog excerpts...

1982fxr · Jul 9, 2020

Is Lufkin today still connected to the original or just a brand name that was sold or something?

davethorik · Jul 9, 2020

1982fxr said:
Is Lufkin today still connected to the original or just a brand name that was sold or something?

Lufkin the original company was split in 2 in the mid/late 60s. The machinist tool part was sold to Pratt & Whitney, who kept making them for a few years. Same as old Lufkin tools, just said P&W instead of Lufkin.

The remainder (tape measures, folding rules, plumb bobs, etc) were sold to Cooper. This is the Lufkin you see today in stores, no real connection to the original besides name.

txlonghorn1989 · Jul 10, 2020

Private Lugnutz said:
We don't have a general Lufkin thread, so I am tacking this on here. Picked it up at the flea market this morning. NOS. As in still sealed never opened before NOS. Some guy had a bunch of NOS Lufkin stuff. Scribers, dial indicators, inside micrometers, etc. I was in a rush or I probably would've fine toothed it and bought more. These are the "D" size adjustable parallels (15/16" to 1-5/16"). There's a second, later patent on the Nox-Rust Vapor Wrapper ("Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor"), but the one I can read (2,521,311) dates to 1950. I don't want to ru9n the wrapper on the marked side. Guessing the number (7-54) on the returns chit is probably a date.

That's hard to believe there's no Lufkin thread! I really like and use on a regular basis the few vintage Lufkin tools I've got.

Another cool find Lugz!

ClappedOutBport · Jul 10, 2020

Someone should start an old Lufkin thread. The old stuff was just as good or better than Starrett.

davethorik · Jul 10, 2020

If you gents don't mind, I will start a Lufkin thread. They hold a spot near and dear to my heart, machinist tools and tapes anyway. I have a handful of new old stock vintage Lufkin tape measures which i have shown in the vintage tape measure thread. I have quite a few machinist tools also.

c, 1930's-40's Lufkin Radius Gage Set No. 77C

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