Starrett 18B Automatic Center Punch "R"

[Joe Huld]

I picked up this Starrett 18B automatic center punch at an estate sale today since it was in the original box and reasonable enough. I just opened the box and glanced at it to be sure that it had the correct tool inside and only looked at it closely after getting home. Upon closer inspection rather than the usual point it has a cylindrical punch that stamps the letter "R". It works pretty well, I stamped a clear "R" into my mild steel welding table and another in a piece of plywood. The punch is clearly a manufactured item since it has a knurled base and is marked GTS8805CAHD in block letters.. The current Starrett online catalog doesn't show anything but regular pointed punches for the automatic center punches and I have never seen anything else in the hundreds that I have seen. Is this a Starrett made item or did some other company make these punches?

 

[3baygarage]

Must have belonged to a pirate.

 

[toolmiser]

Consider this a bump. I have what may be the same thing but mine has a rounded top. I will be watching this post. I think mine was listed in their catalog. I should try and see if it can be replaced with a pointed tip.

 

[RTM]

You can buy new tips for some of the Starrett punches.

PT02948 SHANK POINT, #18

Point only for No. 18B.

www.starrett.com

Or you can keep the R, and use it to Reject or Rebuild people’s work. I’d assume the R was made by someone other than Starrett.

 

[WAS Jr]

Starrett made and makes all kinds of specialized tools for the military, government, and large companies. They may be able to tell you who and what it’s for. Bet somewhere in the archives of a 170 year company they have a contract or part number on it, even if it’s buried in a basement. Looks like some some sort of acceptance stamp.
Bill S

 

[Joe Huld]

Starrett made and makes all kinds of specialized tools for the military, government, and large companies. They may be able to tell you who and what it’s for. Bet somewhere in the archives of a 170 year company they have a contract or part number on it, even if it’s buried in a basement. Looks like some some sort of acceptance stamp.
Bill S

I agree that it probably is an acceptance or inspectors marking tool. The stamp is as well made as the rest of the tool and the knurling matches so I think it probably was made by Starrett. I'll take your suggestion and email Starrett; the worst they can do is ignore me.

 

[crguy]

Starrett made and makes all kinds of specialized tools for the military, government, and large companies. They may be able to tell you who and what it’s for. Bet somewhere in the archives of a 170 year company they have a contract or part number on it, even if it’s buried in a basement. Looks like some some sort of acceptance stamp.
Bill S

Do you seriously think Starrett is interested in going thru their old records to look for that? They aren't interested enough in their history to have a decent museum.

 

[Provincial]

Those large pattern automatic center punches were used often to stamp inspector's marks. Starrett had a custom shop that did that work, but most large manufacturing plants (and government arsenals) had the capability to make (and properly harden) those custom points.

Last I checked, the center punch points for this tool were still available. Because of shipping cost, it might be a good idea to check with your local Starrett dealer and see if they can order you one to be shipped with their next restocking order. I have had good luck with this in the past. The dealer can make a reasonable mark-up and you still get the part for less than having it shipped direct.

 

[humber2]

From the 1955 Catalog No27

 

[ttpete]

What Starrett probably did was cut the R into a tip when it was soft, then run it through heat treat.

 

[WAS Jr]

Do you seriously think Starrett is interested in going thru their old records to look for that? They aren't interested enough in their history to have a decent museum.

CR , I willingly concede you could be right, lots of times it’s just luck to get they guy who becomes the company historian. But maybe it’s helped that this punch has been in regular production for a zillion years.
Bill S

 

[2oolhound]

Last time I was at Starrett's web site (10 years ago), it WAS a museum! There was a ton of info there. You should definitely look into it. I know they make 3 strengths of spring for those.

 

[neophyte]

Racodon of France, a manufacturer of chisels punches and similar tools, as well as a range of automatic punches, manufactures an automatic punch similar to the Starrett auto punches, with a replaceable tip.
The do a set that comes with the automatic punch and a set of numbering dies for use as punch tips.

I don’t know whether Starrett would have made the tip, or whether an outside punch manufacturer would have, or possibly just the machine shop at a manufacturer who needed a lettered tip.
The easiest way to make a tip like that would be to buy lettering punches that were already made, anneal the steel, put the tip on a lather and turn the punch round, and add the threaded shaft, then re harden and temper the punch.
Otherwise you would need the engraving setup to cut the letter, although that is also a possibility.
lettering and numbering punches in a number of different sizes are available off the shelf from industrial suppliers though so just turning one down would likely be easier.