Show your vintage Lufkin tools

[davethorik]

Lufkin machinist tools, tape measures, rules...it is all welcome here. Pratt & Whitney machinist tools also, since they are related.

Lufkin is special to me personally because a Lufkin depth micrometer was my first ever machinist tool purchase, and I still use it to this day (pics tba).

Figured I would set this off with an interesting find. I'm not the best photographer but the fitted mahogany box for this 901A master planer gage is jaw-droppingly beautiful.

This tool is new old stock, it has the original outer cardboard box but sadly no original paperwork. Still, I have never seen another this nice. This was purchased from a retiring machining trades teacher at a local career center.

This tool is ground all over, basically a large adjustable parallel. I have put an indicator on another and used it as a poor man's height gage. I believe it was originally meant for setting tool clearance on a metal planer. Two halves slide in a ground dovetail, there is a lock and a fine adjust. It also has 2 bubble levels in the base.

 

[davethorik]

As for the Pratt & Whitney connection...the Lufkin machinist tool line was sold off in the mid 60s to P&W. I believe they were part of Colt Industries at the time. I have seen a P&W catalog dated 1970, that is the newest I have seen, otherwise I do not know much about what became of these tools.

Here is a new old stock P&W CT1661V micrometer 0-1", in original box. Carbide faces, lock, plain thimble, and a 1/10,000th inch vernier. Adjustment wrench taped to plastic tray.
Pictured next to a used Lufkin CT1641V, same except it has a ratchet thimble.
Also a new old stock P&W 6" machinist scale.

 

[davethorik]

Here is another oddball. Lufkin was pushing for the metric system acceptance, or at least understanding, and made this neat little 1 decimeter (10cm, just under 4") rule. This one is in very nice shape with the sheath.

 

[RTM]

Just to add a bit of trivia information to this thread early, here is some information in their folding rules and the numbers assigned. Lee Sell was their unofficial historian at one point, and I was certain he had a web page, but have not found it yet.

http://www.pasttools.org/articles/lufkin.htm

I will pop in with a tool case and other goodies later, when I can get a good pic.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for starting this, Dave.

Here's a shot of the only three vintage 30's-50's Lufkin things I have found in the wild. A complete Radius Gauge Set No. 77C (in the maroon leatherette snap-case), Adjustable Parallels No. 915D (in the NOS box), and a Wizard Junior Tape Measure No. 1686.

I have posted many more photos and close-ups and 1947 catalog excerpts of each in other threads, here, for the radius gauge, here, for the parallels, and here, for the tape measure.

I will also add the 1947 catalog cover for 'color'!

View media item 82779
[Note to self: Add thread link to Stickie Index]

 

[senlow]

Here is an interesting Lufkin indicator.

 

[davethorik]

I already have one of these Pratt & Whitney no. 681K inside micrometer sets, but when i saw this on marketplace for cheap I had to grab it. Identical to the Lufkin 681K set, 4-40".

This one does have a nicer mahogany case, and the size chart, along with a certification that is hand dated 1974. The whole thing could use a cleaning, and wrenches are missing but it is in nice shape. I love the satin chrome extensions.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Really nice Lufkin tools Dave. Your planer guage and P&W inside mic sets are in beautiful condition. I have planer guages by Starrett and B&S which see occasional use. I'm surprised at how few Lufkin tools of any type I have. Compared to Starrett, B&S, Union, and General I have found very few.

Here are a couple pics of Lufkin tools I do have. A 0" - 6" set of tenths reading mics which I really like. Also some older P&W stuff. One roll is tapered mandrels and the other is a mix of straight and tapered reamers. These are mostly unused and still in paper wraps and cosmoline. Ed.

 

[MShaw]

The reason that the P & W inside mic set is identical to Lufkin is because when Lufkin dissolved P & W took over the micrometer line for a while. Here are P & W 4", 5", and 6" mics I bought in the era when P & W had the line.

 

[davethorik]

The reason that the P & W inside mic set is identical to Lufkin is because when Lufkin dissolved P & W took over the micrometer line for a while. Here are P & W 4", 5", and 6" mics I bought in the era when P & W had the line.

Your pic isn't showing, but yes i mentioned that earlier in the thread.

 

[d42jeep]

A fairly recent acquisition is this cloth tape measure that the State of California purchased from Lufkin.
-Don

 

[MShaw]

"but yes i mentioned that earlier in the thread."
Sorry, I missed that.
Here's the picture.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was pretty psyched up to find this 0-1" micrometer at the flea market this morning in its original Lufkin wooden box, with its original Lufkin paperwork, including instructions for adjustments and a packing memorandum claim ticket, and its original Lufkin marked wrench and spare parts.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Until I got it home and paid more attention to the marking, which is when I discovered the actual micrometer was a Brown & Sharpe 0-1" No. 116.

 

[Provincial]

The "spare parts" are not for the micrometer, either. The threaded shaft with the graduated nut is probably a stop adjuster, like a carriage stop for a lathe. I don't know about the other piece, but 0-1" micrometers are adjusted at the 0 setting, and if it is a 1" standard, it was intended for adjusting a 1-2" micrometer.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yup. All I need to find is someone with a Lufkin 0-1" looking for a box.

 

[Provincial]

I would be interested in the stop adjuster parts.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

PM me.

 

[Crowbarman55]

I have lived all of my life 20 miles from where Lufkin plant used to be in Saginaw Michigan. I had relatives that are no longer with us who used to work there. It's a sad looking place now. I enjoy looking at the tools you have posted and seeing Saginaw MI on them.
Thanks
Todd

 

[RTM]

Couple of acquisitions from Dec 5 weekend, Lufkin #8 Rule Clamp, and two Telescoping gages, not marked, but appear to be #79 D & E. These give me a full set of 6 sizes, but not quite identical logos. The biggest has the huge swoosh under the Lufkin name, the other does not.



This set came from my favorite iron monger a few months back, and apparently I didn't post them. These were a bit sticky with something hardened like WD40, took a few baths in solvent to get them working correctly, then I added Starrett instrument oil to them.

 

[ooba tooba]

nice counter display

 

[braceface2122]

Hey I know this is an old thread but I found this at a yard sale. Anyone know how to open it up? I think the spring needs to be tightened or replaced.

 

[RTM]

Hey I know this is an old thread but I found this at a yard sale. Anyone know how to open it up? I think the spring needs to be tightened or replaced.

I don’t think there is a spring. Check the catalog listing

Lufkin Measuring Tapes, Rules and Mechanical Tools : Catalog No.11 : Lufkin Rule Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

138 p., illus., 26.0 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[lilredex]

Found a Lufkin #7122 yard stick at a garage sale for $1. Nobody there knew the significance of Lufkin. Reverse side is marked in fractions of a yard per that catalogue above...thanks for that.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a little die makers square

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this vintage No. 85 folding mechanics' steel rule yesterday. Humdrum and probably not rare, but the etchings are very deep and dark, I love old-fashioned numeral fonts, and the rivet-over-washer joint on my brass L.S. Starrett 24-incher is loose and this will come in handy for photo ops.

 

[alfadan]

I have a 1-2 mic that was I guess an economy line by lufkin. It needs adjusting but I can't figure out how to do it. It dosen't have a hole in the thimble like a starrett or mitutoyo.
The only thing I've seen is old catalog pics talking about automatic take-up of wear in the screw.

 

[leg17]

..... I love old-fashioned numeral fonts, .....

I suspect that on a lot of the early tools that the numerals were acid etched and the resist was hand scratched.
Might be a possibility on this one as well, though they look pretty uniform.

 

[Mintgrun]

Picked up this vintage No. 85 folding mechanics' steel rule yesterday. Humdrum and probably not rare, but the etchings are very deep and dark, I love old-fashioned numeral fonts, and the rivet-over-washer joint on my brass L.S. Starrett 24-incher is loose and this will come in handy for photo ops.

Here are a couple of brass Lufkin rules. The wavy one is a No. 1085. It went through a fire.




Their numerals don't look as old (or as cool) as the ones on the No. 85.



The back side has circle circumference measurements in eighth inch increments. Apparently, that makes it a "tinners' rule."

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Does anyone still measure in Links? This one of my old ones.

 

[craftsman creep]

I have a lufkin tape measure that you can see in this video. ( not vintage).

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

When was links the primary measurements?

 

[RTM]

Surveying use into the early 80s in my world. Couple of old timers did some site work for us.

This 1982 catalog, latest in ITCL, has 3 still marked in links.

Lufkin : The Cooper Group Catalog No. 55171 : Cooper Industries, Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

50 p., illus., 27.3 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Surveying use into the early 80s in my world. Couple of old timers did some site work for us.

This 1982 catalog, latest in ITCL, has 3 still marked in links.

Lufkin : The Cooper Group Catalog No. 55171 : Cooper Industries, Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

50 p., illus., 27.3 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Thanks. I have a large roll of chain links somewhere up above the shop. Not sure what brand though. And I still can not grasp the knowledge behind why the small 24 inch read right to left?

 

[RTM]

Not that unusual, some people prefer it that way. Here is an ambidextrous one. Maybe those are for lefties.

Lufkin : The Cooper Group Catalog No. 55171 : Cooper Industries, Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

50 p., illus., 27.3 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Interesting, this Stanley page calls L to R as English

Stanley Tools for Carpenters and Mechanics : Catalogue No. 34 : 1926 : The Stanley Rule & Level Plant : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

196 p., illus., 17.8 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Not that unusual, some people prefer it that way. Here is an ambidextrous one. Maybe those are for lefties.

Lufkin : The Cooper Group Catalog No. 55171 : Cooper Industries, Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

50 p., illus., 27.3 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Interesting, this Stanley page calls L to R as English

Stanley Tools for Carpenters and Mechanics : Catalogue No. 34 : 1926 : The Stanley Rule & Level Plant : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

196 p., illus., 17.8 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Thanks. You and your friends are a wealth of knowledge.

 

[kwigly]

a big 'un and a little 'un.
48" Lufkin 7142 ruler with brass hook end ("Glazier's rule"), and a 4" Lufkin "Toolmaker's" inside caliper

 

[d42jeep]

A variety of Lufkin tape measures. The newer red one I recently found at a sale.
-Don

 

[kwigly]

A variety of Lufkin tape measures.

Nice collection d42. I have an similarly orange Lufkin (in the 50 ft size) that I showed with a bunch of other Lufkins in the "vintage tape measures" thread. I like that the older tapes (and old tools in general) list the place they were made, from a time when companies had more community spirit.

 

[cretedog]

This old post got me digging through my Lufkin this fine Easter morn...

Dad's rule. And his dad's well worn rules above. The only metal tape he used in his lifetime was a 50'. Also a Lufkin.