Compasses (not for those directionally challenged)

[bmwpower]

I finally found a nice one in some tools given to me by a relative who passed away recently.

It's a Pexto, Made in USA. I tried to clean it up as best I could. Compasses, for me, have been one of those things I've always needed, but always forget to buy.

What do you have?

Any idea why there is a knob on the other arm (not the lockdown arm)?

 

[wilbilt]

Isn't the second knob the fine adjustment?

 

[dxdexter]

What do you have?

Nice find BMW. To bad you had to get it this way and I am sorry for your loss. Yours is a lot nicer than mine. One pair is made in France (brass arm) and the other, who knows. It has a "TW" inside a circle and looks like something from the 1800,s.

 

[Worsedog]

I would guess that since it looks like it move the scale it is for calibration.

 

[bmwpower]

I would guess that since it looks like it move the scale it is for calibration.

Not sure I follow... So you lock down the other arm and then use the side knob to "calibrate"? Or is it like a fine adjustment?

 

[MAD]

There is a 1923 Peck Stow and Wilcox catalog on the Rose antiques site that you can download in PDF format.
http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id192.html
Here is a clipping for you from page 126.

 

[bmwpower]

There is a 1923 Peck Stow and Wilcox catalog on the Rose antiques site that you can download in PDF format.
http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id192.html
Here is a clipping for you from page 126.

Huh...look at that. Thanks for adding that!

 

[nova65ss]

I have an old pair out in the truck that my father gave me. On mine it only has the side knob and no lock down knob. I wonder if it is for taking them apart to repair??

 

[danski0224]

Sorry about your loss.

Those are more commonly called dividers.

The hash marks are probably there to provide more friction points for the lockdown knob. They may be calibrated. I only have 1 set of the same vintage as yours.

Newer dividers (maybe original PEXTO and certainly "PEXTO" made by Roper Whitney) do not have the hashmarks and use a wingnut instead of the machined knob. If you buy new ones (still available from RW), file down the end of the wingnut screw so it is flat and then it won't trash the locking arm surface.

The knob on the side is for fine adjustment. Try dividing a straight line into 12 equal spaces with those dividers. Then you will understand what that knob is for.

 

[eschoendorff]

I do not have much to offer on the compass (although it is a neat older piece), but you took some damn nice pictures! What kind of camera are you using?

 

[nova65ss]

We always called them dividers also. We used them when I did sheet metal work. Now I use them to scribe a wood botoom section to fit an uneven floor.

 

[bmwpower]

I do not have much to offer on the compass (although it is a neat older piece), but you took some damn nice pictures! What kind of camera are you using?

Thanks. I use a Canon Powershot S70.

Sorry about your loss.

Those are more commonly called dividers.

The hash marks are probably there to provide more friction points for the lockdown knob. They may be calibrated. I only have 1 set of the same vintage as yours.

Newer dividers (maybe original PEXTO and certainly "PEXTO" made by Roper Whitney) do not have the hashmarks and use a wingnut instead of the machined knob. If you buy new ones (still available from RW), file down the end of the wingnut screw so it is flat and then it won't trash the locking arm surface.

The knob on the side is for fine adjustment. Try dividing a straight line into 12 equal spaces with those dividers. Then you will understand what that knob is for.

That makes sense that it would be for fine adjustment.