Interesting Marking-out Tool

[OldMetallerParticipant @oldmetaller]

[OldMetallerParticipant @oldmetaller]

I got ordered to drive Mrs Metaller, who is a bookbinder, to an auction of bookbinding tools in Leicester a few weeks ago. This one item caught my eye, and I was able to successfully bid on the lot that it was in. The other stuff wasn't very exciting, but this tool is a little gem.

It is minutely marked 'Made in West Germany', so presumably that dates it from a few decades ago. It opens and closes with a lovely, smooth action and the points are extremely sharp. I imagine it was used to mark out for when a book gets stitched together, but Mrs M was unable to enlighten me on it's precise use.

It's quite nice that, when a bookbinder retires or otherwise stops binding, the Society of Bookbinders arrange for his or her tools to be offered to other, still active, bookbinders, which removes the dread possibility of an avaricious dealer offering a widow or widower a ridiculously small sum for what are, very often, lovely tools that have been cherished.

I don't know if I'll ever use it, but it's taking up next to no space hanging on hooks along with the protractors and spring-leg callipers.

John.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

That's a nice bit of kit. Similar to a tool my mate an aircraft engineer has. They apparently used it to mark out even spacing on rivet holes on aircraft when installing panels on the "skin". So could come in useful for all sorts of jobs around the workshop and the house. Quicker than measuring, dividing in the head then marking each step.

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

John, that's definitely not a bookbinding tool, at least not one that's ever been marketed as such.

I'd be interested to know what your wife bought at the auction. I was notified of it through the S.O.B. [been a member for 23 years], but couldn't attend.

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

And the numbers are for …..?

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Trend made a similar tool for general marking out of joints in woodwork

 

https://www.trend-uk.com/en/UK/product/M_P2P01/2/162/point_to_point_up_to_710mm_.html

Edited By Ian Parkin on 21/04/2020 14:37:20

[OldMetallerParticipant @oldmetaller]

Posted by Bill Phinn on 21/04/2020 12:34:38:

John, that's definitely not a bookbinding tool, at least not one that's ever been marketed as such.

I'd be interested to know what your wife bought at the auction. I was notified of it through the S.O.B. [been a member for 23 years], but couldn't attend.

Hi Bill, we're members of the North Wales and North West branch of SoB, Mrs M bought a litho stone, some paper and yet more bl**dy flat irons, you can't move in her workshop for them already!

I'm not actually a bookbinder, I joined because I like to learn new stuff, and they are a great bunch! I did learn to do leather inlay at one of the SoB workshops, though!

John.

[OldMetallerParticipant @oldmetaller]

Posted by Hopper on 21/04/2020 11:35:44:

That's a nice bit of kit. Similar to a tool my mate an aircraft engineer has. They apparently used it to mark out even spacing on rivet holes on aircraft when installing panels on the "skin". So could come in useful for all sorts of jobs around the workshop and the house. Quicker than measuring, dividing in the head then marking each step.

And so perfect for me, as I can't do even simple arithmetic!

John.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by Nick Clarke 3 on 21/04/2020 14:16:02:

And the numbers are for …..?

Common in woodworking use, if you want to divide the width of a board into say 7 equal parts you hold 0 on one edge and 7 on the other and mark off each of the other pointers and that is your 7 equal parts.

[Lee RogersParticipant @leerogers95060]

A good pastry chef would recognise that as similar to a strip cutter . Cant say I've used one in 45 years at the stove , one tends to train the eye to do with as few gadgets as possible.

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by OldMetaller on 21/04/2020 16:07:06:

Hi Bill, we're members of the North Wales and North West branch of SoB

That's my region too, John.

[Brian MorehenParticipant @brianmorehen85290]

Hi Bill,

Flat Irons Finishing irons Tailors Irons PoolTable Irom Some Thay require a metal slug And a Dali last in excess of 20 , All used to be on display in Our Dry Cleaning Shop till we sold it Know in the garage..

Regards Brian M

[Alexander Smith 1Participant @alexandersmith1]

Like Lee, this took me back 60 years goiIng into the bakery with my Dad who was foreman, and "helping". "Helping " in my case involved raiding the bins with sultanas and dates and searching out any left over cream cakes but I clearly remember a very similar tool with cutting discs on each point being used to cut even strips from a huge sheet of puff pastry. This then had a long sausage of minced meat piped down the middle of each strip, fold it over and cut into sections and hey presto, you have a sausage roll! Fresh out of the oven they were wonderful. Sandy

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I feel hungry now!

I made a special measuring tool for a dear friend of mine, for last Christmas.

She has a curious habit of cutting slices of cake into small cubes, so I made a centre-finder / calibrated square to aid accurate cutting. Machined from a scrap sheet stainless-steel shelf bracket (ex-catering equipment so appropriate!), I even calibrated its 2-hand long blade in hands and eighth-hands, reflecting her horse-riding hobby.

It is actually quite precise too, even though made in humour. I used the DRO on the mill to engrave the lines with a worn-out centre-drill, and tested the centre-finding by sharp pencil on the underside of a saucepan.

[OldMetallerParticipant @oldmetaller]

Posted by Bill Phinn on 21/04/2020 19:02:31:

Posted by OldMetaller on 21/04/2020 16:07:06:

Hi Bill, we're members of the North Wales and North West branch of SoB

That's my region too, John.

Hi Bill, what a coincidence! Mrs Metaller is Sue Wood, the area organiser! Hope to see you at a Kelsall workshop, when all this madness is over!

John.

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