Antique Lady Leg Calipers

[Fordman7795]

Picked these up yesterday. Never knew they existed. When i saw them i said "hmm they look like calipers in the shape of legs". They are marked 1866 W.E Battles. Of course, google search revealed no other information.

 

[Professur]

Purdy

 

[sselander]

Some more to look at:

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-and-history/lady-leg-calipers-223001/

http://www.jonzimmersantiquetools.com/tools/legs.htm

 

[davethorik]

A lot of those were hand made by apprentices. In your case, W. E. Battles. That's pretty cool, civil war era.

 

[Fordman7795]

I found a William Battles in the 1860 census who was 27 at the time and his occupation was listed as a blacksmith. Possibly the fellow fought in the civil war then came back to work and made these in 1866

 

[leg17]

I found a William Battles in the 1860 census who was 27 at the time and his occupation was listed as a blacksmith. Possibly the fellow fought in the civil war then came back to work and made these in 1866

Good detective work.
They could have been made up to around the turn of the century, so POSSIBLY made by his son or grandson, but your first idea seems plausible.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Thanks for posting, I have seen them before. But it is still nice to refresh the old brain

 

[Fordman7795]

Found someone a little closer to probably the owner. A 22 year old William Battles.......who was a machinist.

 

[Fordman7795]

Good detective work.
They could have been made up to around the turn of the century, so POSSIBLY made by his son or grandson, but your first idea seems plausible.

Even though they are stamped 1866?

 

[Fordman7795]

Found someone a little closer to probably the owner. A 22 year old William Battles.......who was a machinist.

In the 1880 census he had moved to Saginaw Michigan which is one town over from me. This has to be him.

 

[nine4gmc]

I thought, "wonder wtf lady leg calipers are, I have lots of calipers" so I clicked and well.... I don't have any lady leg calipers, those are awesome!!

 

[bczygan]

In the 1880 census he had moved to Saginaw Michigan which is one town over from me. This has to be him.

I wonder if he has relatives still living in the area?

http://www.whitepages.com/name/Battles/Saginaw-MI

Bill

 

[leg17]

Even though they are stamped 1866?

Sorry, I spaced it out over the dating. Sorry.

 

[51cub]

You mentioned the Civil War, and I looked to see where you're from. Now I can't help but imagine him as part of the Iron Brigade, that made themselves quite a name durin the war. There were alot of MI regiments, but I think it was the 24th MI that joined the brigade in'62

 

[crguy]

Here's a pair. Note the 3D cheeks!

 

[crguy]

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