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Vintage 48 inch Exact Level

yardiron

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 9, 2014
Messages
209
Location
NJ
I found this in an old barn, it was laying atop a beam as if it had gotten left there by accident years ago. The barn was built in the very late 50's.
The level says 'The Exact Level Co" Pleasantville, PA around two of the sight windows.
A few of the clear lenses were loose and laying next to the level where I found it, the glue just let go and the grommets that hold the glass just fell out.
It appears to just be held in with a few dabs of contact adhesive.
I figured I'd pop them all out, clean the vials and reglue all the lenses.
Its in pretty amazing shape after a good scrubbing.
I've seen these with a NJ address but not from PA, was it the same company?
(I think the NJ address was High Bridge, NJ?)
In the pic, the one hole has a piece of cardboard in it to protect the vials while I was cleaning the paint. I've also never seen one painted up this bright, even the area around the vials is painted red with just the surface edges being polished. Sort of like an older Mayes Tall Tennasean level.
An online search didn't turn up a single one like this?
 

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tube_guy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
749
Nice find and a nice level. Can you tell what it's made from? Iron or is it aluminum?
 
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Y

yardiron

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 9, 2014
Messages
209
Location
NJ
Nice find and a nice level. Can you tell what it's made from? Iron or is it aluminum?

It's either aluminum or zinc, but I think it feels too heavy to be plain aluminum. I've got a similar Maye's Tall Tennesean level that's the same length and style and the Exact is probably a third heavier.
I removed all the loose lenses, both to clean the vials and to protect the glass. I made cardboard discs to protect the vials and ran it through a buffer at work that's used for rough surface items. It brought the original paint back from a dull brown looking color to a brilliant red. I had to glue emery paper to a board and I lightly sanded the bright edges, they were gray and dull even after buffing.
I'm probably going to use some weatherstrip adhesive to reinstall the glass in the holes. It sits in rubber grommets but they were just glued in with two dabs of glue each. A few had fallen out and were laying next to it on the beam where I found it. The grommets don't make a total seal, there was a lot dust inside behind the glass on every hole, a few had dead bugs inside. I've never seen one of these with grommets like this, my Maye's levels are all glued and caulked. I first thought maybe the grommets had dried up and shrunk but they fit snug on the sides. There's just no way other than glue to hold them in place. The white paper discs behind the lens blocks the view of the edges of the vials. One paper ring on each side has the brand and address on it, the rest are blank.
 
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