Unrecognized gauge marked “PERLES”

[egaParticipant @ega]

Does anyone recognize this?

It was given me by a (now deceased) friend with an interest in clocks. As an indication of size beyond the rule, the no 3 hole is about 0.040".

I don't think it is a gauge for measuring pearls!

[egaParticipant @ega]

Possibly a watch or clockmaker’s tool

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

Hmm, goes against the usual convention of larger numbers representing smaller diameters. No ides

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Looks a bit like a Wire Drawing Plate to me, used for pulling annealed wire through to gradually reduce its diameter.

Unfotunately I cannot remember how the hole numbering system works on those (age thing).

P.S. I think there is a power tool manufacturer called Perles.

Edited By V8Eng on 01/05/2017 18:37:10

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Looks like a gauge for measuring wire size using something like BWG (Birmingham Wire Gauge)

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Bead, pearl,  stone gauge.

**LINK**

Martin C

Edited By Martin Connelly on 01/05/2017 18:35:06

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by ega on 01/05/2017 14:23:22:

I don't think it is a gauge for measuring pearls!

.

But of course, it is

[ well done, Martin C ]

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Wire drawing numbers always get bigger as the holes get smaller, because they are a count of how many times the wire has been through the die.

Neil

[John FlackParticipant @johnflack59079]

Perles being French for pearls may confirm info above 🤔🤔

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 01/05/2017 19:42:25:

Wire drawing numbers always get bigger as the holes get smaller, because they are a count of how many times the wire has been through the die.

Neil

Except of course, Whitworths Wire Gauge which goes from 1 (meaning 1 thou) up to 500 (meaning 500 thou or half an inch)

Brian

[richardandtracyParticipant @richardandtracy]

Why couldn't they just specify the diameter in objective units?

Makes life so much easier.

Regards

Richard

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

Posted by richardandtracy on 01/05/2017 20:18:48:

Why couldn't they just specify the diameter in objective units?

Makes life so much easier.

Regards

Richard

Because the last thing the jewellery trade want is objective buyers?

Brian

[egaParticipant @ega]

Pearls,etc it is!

Thanks to those who identified my gauge; interesting that beads, pearls and stones (diamonds) are apparently measured in the same way and difficult to see what use or ornament a no 1 pearl would be.

John Flack: I was aware of the French word which, on checking, I see also means bead and howler.

The absence of a maker's name suggests that it may be shop-made.

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 01/05/2017 19:42:25:

Wire drawing numbers always get bigger as the holes get smaller, because they are a count of how many times the wire has been through the die.

Neil

Thanks Neil.

I have a couple of small size plates for circular wire and one for square, for various reasons accesss is not posssible at present and I could not remember the numbering system.

Edited By V8Eng on 02/05/2017 09:59:25

Edited By V8Eng on 02/05/2017 10:00:19

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

EGA, seed pearls in jewelry are going to be about size 1. If you want even sizes then a gauge is needed.

**LINK**

Martin C

[egaParticipant @ega]

Martin Connelly:

Thanks. I see that according to winterson.co.uk:

"The famous Baroda Pearl Carpet, sold at auction by Sotheby's in 2009 for $5.5m, was covered with around 1.4 million seed pearls, all drilled by hand and sewn decoratively onto the fabric."

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Those holes are almost big enough to measure the pearls of wisdom in this forum

Neil

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