Posted 2 years ago
Odauctions
(40 items)
I have searched the Internet and I am not able to find another Stanley No. 36 12" Cast Iron Level like this. All of the Stanley 36 I can find have 3 Bubbles, one in the center and two vertical bubbles. Can someone tell me what I have here?
Odauctions, Interesting. :-)
What you appear to have is a level with no plumbs.
Here's an 1898 Stanley catalog, and it shows the No. 36, but all of them (6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 inches) have one level and two plumb bubble vials (the beautiful brass-bound rosewood No. 98 appears to have only one plumb vial):
https://www.blackburntools.com/articles/rose-tools-catalog-archives/pdfs/stanley-1898.pdf
Here is a smaller, fancier, Stanley level with no plumb vials:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1896-stanley-line-level-492393693
It has only the June 23, 1896 patent on it, so I wonder what the August 4, 1896 patent was about.
Hmmm, here are some Stanley-associated patents:
https://www.datamp.org/patents/search/xrefCompany.php?source=xrefCompany547&start=135&id=547
So five level-related patents on those two dates:
https://www.datamp.org/patents/search/advance.php?pn=562678&id=12730&set=143
https://www.datamp.org/patents/search/advance.php?pn=562679&id=12729&set=144
https://www.datamp.org/patents/search/advance.php?pn=565096&id=15049&set=145
https://www.datamp.org/patents/search/advance.php?pn=565097&id=18494&set=146
https://www.datamp.org/patents/search/advance.php?pn=565098&id=14677&set=147
Dunno why your particular Stanley No. 36 appears to have no plumb vials, though. :-(
Is it probable that this plane started out as longer and has the the two plumbs cut or broken off. Seems that I've seen them with half circle ends instead of square ends. Just raising that possibility ??
Motoolz, That's an interesting theory.
Indeed, all the vintage ones out there seem to have the half-moon ends as seen in the 1898 catalog.
Some of the later ones have squared off ends, but seem obviously cast that way, e.g.:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-stanley-36-12-cast-iron-level-1828344405
More Stanley No. 36 history:
http://www.oldtooluser.com/TypeStudy/Stan36Level.htm
Odauctions, How do the ends on yours appear? That is to say, does they look cast, or perhaps modified?
All I did was type in "all metal Stanley level" and got quite a few images for pieces similar to yours on first glance !~
I have seen most of the links you guys have mentioned. Regard the comment from Motoolz, he might have hit on something. When I look at the ends, one does not look like the other. Why would anyone do such a thing as cut this level down? Once again thanks so much for your time, you guys always have an answer.
Steve
Odauctions, So it does look like somebody trimmed the tool.
I don't know why anybody would do that, unless it had already been damaged. It sure seems like a lot of work.
Yes, when you look closely it does appear to be trimmed. Whoever did it, did a good job.
Odauctions, Interesting.
All I can think is that perhaps the tool had been damaged in a way that made it impossible to use without modification. That is, it couldn't be seated flat anymore, thus rendering its prime function unusable.
Or, the owner had a small, portable, tool box, and wanted a level that would fit into it. That seems unlikely, though. Twelve inch long or less levels were available.