What the heck are these tools?

[myredracer]

These used to belong to my dad. The only clues I have are that he used to be a machinist in the navy in WWII and before the war, he had a bit of woodworking hobby. They don't seem to be machine tools? Maybe they are for woodworking and for use with a lathe? Any idea how old they might be?

 

[bmwrd0]

Pic two is a surface gauge, used to mark the height of an object on a level surface.

 

[65ranchero]

That's what I think they are , maybe used on a steel block that is blued and mark/ scribe lines on it before machining.

 

[Dave455]

Scribing blocks / Surface gauges.

Usually used on a surface plate. Set the gauge using a steel rule, then scribe a line at the height you need.

Still a common tool in metalworking.

The one on the right in the first picture has a fine adjustment. These are much nicer to use.

 

[myredracer]

That's what I think they are , maybe used on a steel block that is blued and mark/ scribe lines on it before machining.

He worked on engines in Corvette ****** ships (that escorted supply ships across the Atlantic) while in port. I can imagine there were various large shafts or other parts that needed to be scribed before machining. He never ever talked about his service in the navy and all I know is that he was a machinist. Still have a small tool cabinet of his with some misc. tools.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

He never ever talked about his service in the navy...

It was a common trait. My dad was also in the Navy in WWII. He was a quartermaster on a destroyer ******. Four uncles in the Army. None of them liked to talk about it. And I hear this all the time from other guys with WWII dads. To the extent when shows like "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific" were released I was astounded on the edge of perplexed by all the short cameo narratives from the actual veterans the characters were portraying that preceded each episode. It was just so uncharacteristic. I can't imagine what the producers had to do to cajole that kind of reticence out of them. Unlike some modern veterans today, I have to say, who are only too willing to shoot their mouths off for a buck, some of them breaking protocol and NDAs on top of it.

Good on you for saving his stuff.

 

[Provincial]

Surface Gauge 101, courtesy of L.S. Starrett:

Starrett

 

[myredracer]

It was a common trait. My dad was also in the Navy in WWII. He was a quartermaster on a destroyer ******. Four uncles in the Army. None of them liked to talk about it. And I hear this all the time from other guys with WWII dads. To the extent when shows like "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific" were released I was astounded on the edge of perplexed by all the short cameo narratives from the actual veterans the characters were portraying that preceded each episode. It was just so uncharacteristic. I can't imagine what the producers had to do to cajole that kind of reticence out of them. Unlike some modern veterans today, I have to say, who are only too willing to shoot their mouths off for a buck, some of them breaking protocol and NDAs on top of it.

Good on you for saving his stuff.

I hope your dad made it back. I've seen a lot of movies about WWII since I was a kid, many in B&W. I don't see the old movies around anymore. Some of them were very good. My favorite is the Great Escape. The movie was changed somewhat for the audience, but is still relatively close to the way it was. I used to know someone who had a relative that was one of escapers.

Yes, I have heard it was common for vets not to speak about their experiences. That was long before we knew about PTSD and psychological trauma too. I had an uncle who was a captain on a supply ship to/from the UK. He apparently would be sailing full steam and U-boats would be sinking escorts ships around him. Sailors would be flailing in the water screaming for help but my uncle was under orders to keep going. I only know about this because I got it 2nd hand from my mom.

Speaking about world wars, my grandfather fought the Germans on the front lines in WWII at Vimy Ridge, Ypres and The Somme. I learned nothing about his service from my mom so assume he did not talk about it. I have his whistle and siren he used in the trenches and a few medals & pins. He survived being gassed and made it back home. Watching the movie 1917 is chilling to watch.

To all those that have served to protect the western world and our way of life, one can never say thank you enough. Brings tears to my eyes thinking about what they did for us.

 

[ttpete]

Serving aboard a Corvette in WWII involved escorting merchantmen across the North Atlantic and dealing with U-boats. Those ships were smaller than destroyers and were miserable in bad weather. Surviving all of the rolling and pitching was not pleasant at all. I can understand someone not wanting to re-live it all.

My dad served aboard a seagoing tugboat, but he was in the Pacific. He talked some about it. I served aboard a guided missile light cruiser in the early 1960s.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

He made it back, Red Racer. I'm only 61. An uncle I never met was KIA on Saipan, and to your point, another came home with a stutter he never lost.

1917 was magnificently done, from start to finish, the story and the cinematography.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I hope your dad made it back. I've seen a lot of movies about WWII since I was a kid, many in B&W. I don't see the old movies around anymore. Some of them were very good. My favorite is the Great Escape. The movie was changed somewhat for the audience, but is still relatively close to the way it was. I used to know someone who had a relative that was one of escapers.

Yes, I have heard it was common for vets not to speak about their experiences. That was long before we knew about PTSD and psychological trauma too. I had an uncle who was a captain on a supply ship to/from the UK. He apparently would be sailing full steam and U-boats would be sinking escorts ships around him. Sailors would be flailing in the water screaming for help but my uncle was under orders to keep going. I only know about this because I got it 2nd hand from my mom.

Speaking about world wars, my grandfather fought the Germans on the front lines in WWII at Vimy Ridge, Ypres and The Somme. I learned nothing about his service from my mom so assume he did not talk about it. I have his whistle and siren he used in the trenches and a few medals & pins. He survived being gassed and made it back home. Watching the movie 1917 is chilling to watch.

To all those that have served to protect the western world and our way of life, one can never say thank you enough. Brings tears to my eyes thinking about what they did for us.

Brings tears to my eyes when I think of all the political machinations that created unnecessary wars and exposed young kids to their horrors, returning them maimed, damaged, or boxed to their families. War should be fought by their creators, not children.