Jordan Folding Ruler

[Modern Garage]

I picked up this folding ruler (literally - I grabbed it out of the free box) at a garage sale yesterday. All of my other folding rulers are wood so this caught my eye but also the older type face and the name Jordan that I've never seen before. The segments are aluminum and the brass hinges are solid and positive; overall appears pretty lightly used. I did a little Google-ing and only found some e-bay sellers claiming to have a "rare" tool - never mind the other examples of their "rare" tool available for sale at the same time...
I can't find any solid reference to "Jordan" as a tool maker so maybe they're just a seller, and I wonder if the "Made in Germany" is significant (as opposed to "West Germany"). The typeface of the numbers makes me think 30s-40s era but what do y'all think?
Joe

 

[RTM]

There was a Jordan company in Germany. This website is hosted by a guy name Jordan with an interest in the company. Mostly in German, so using Chrome will get you an option for auto translation.

Holzbearbeitung mit Handwerkzeugen (Inhalt)/Woodworking with Hand Tools (Sitemap)

This talks of an import company, which might explain why yours is printed in English. No dates at DAT.

Werkzeuge von Jordan/Germany | The Jordan Tool Page

www.holzwerken.de

This may help with who the importer was

"jordan hardware" - Google Search

 

[Modern Garage]

I saw that German website but it didn't seem to have much info.
I'm guessing Jordan was the importer/retailer just based on the different typeface for "Jordan" vs the rest of the ruler.
I'm probably more curious if anyone has a rough opinion of the age of this one.
Joe

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The typeface of the numbers makes me think 30s-40s era but what do y'all think?

Prewar, for sure.

Generally speaking, from the late 1800's to WWII, tools and other products made in Germany were marked MADE IN GERMANY. This was an export requirement defined by England. Ironically, it had the reverse effect of its intent, which was to increase the buying of domestic products and decrease the influx of goods made in Germany.

After WWII through 1949, when the US and the other major Allies were occupying (and trying to reconstruct what was left of) a split-up Germany, tools and other products were marked with some kind of reference to "Zone", "Occupied Zone", or "Occupied" and "Germany'.

From 1949 until about 1990 (with the dissolution of the USSR and the wall separating East and West Germany coming down), tools and other products would be marked "West Germany" and sometimes "Western Germany."

For completeness, after 1990 we see MADE IN GERMANY again, which can be confusing if not for a modern look.

I have folding steel rule also made in prewar Germany. I'll see if it has any branding.

 

[four.cycle]

^ thanks. confirms what I was thinking: pre-war (based on the fonts used.)

 

[RTM]

I'm guessing Jordan was the importer/retailer just based on the different typeface for "Jordan" vs the rest of the ruler.
I'm probably more curious if anyone has a rough opinion of the age of this one.

Digging into that last link I sent, Jordan Hardware in NY started in 1901. None of this is conclusive on your rule, just a guideline on where to look. As others have said, the font is more telling than anything here.

The Iron Age

www.google.com

There is a second Jordan running around in CT at that same time, confusing things, and getting a lot more of the press back then. Others in Mass and SD also in the mix

In court in 1914

Papers on Appeal

www.google.com

In 1935, they are listed as a worthless security

Robert D. Fisher Manual of Valuable and Worthless Securities

www.google.com

This might be them in 1938, dealing with import issues.

United States Customs Court Reports

www.google.com