Grandpa's micrometer

[hitnmiss]

My aunt recently gave my Grandpa's micrometer to me. I was looking at it and it doesn't have any manufactures engravings. Only thing I could find was a "L" in the throat.

Has anyone seen a micrometer like this? Any thoughts on if he made it himself?

He was trained in Germany and came over before WWII and worked as a machinist all his life.

It has some light surface rust on it. What should I use to clean it? Or should I oil it and leave it? I'm thinking of making a nice box for it out of wood. Any pitfalls with wood causing rust? (plan on oak since I have a piece)

Thanks much,
Andy







[This message has been edited by hitnmiss (edited 08-20-2005).]

[SGW]

I'd oil it and leave it alone. Maybe a very gentle going-over with fine steel wool, but go easy. The patina of age is its character. Altogether too many idiots, under the delusion that they're "restoring" them, polish old tools into junk.

[Paul Alciatore]

I enhanced the first picture and found a name inscribed on it. It looked like "Eugene Sch....". Eugene Schroder perhaps? If that is not your grandfather's name, could it be the name of the maker?

I also have some tools from my grandfather and treasure them. I hope to pass them on some day.

Paul A.

[egpace]

hitnmiss,
Unmarked would lead me to believe it was a handcrafted instrument made during his apprenticeship overseas.
Ed

[J Harp]

Andy:
If you use that oak to make a box for your mic. make sure you keep something waterproof between the wood and the steel, otherwise the tannic acid in the oak will cause the wood to discolor, and may promote rust on your nice micrometer.


------------------
Jim

[madman]

How about the rust removal technique from the www.metalillness.com site it uses baking soda. Gets the rust off withour harming the underlaying metal.

[hitnmiss]

Thanks for the information guys.

The name inscribed is Eugene Schmid, my grandfathers name.

I think it might be handmade. I doubt he would have bought a metric micrometer here in the states. He died back in the mid 70's.

Is there a better wood for a case? I have a micrometer set that came in a nice fitted wood box, seems to store nicely in there.

I think I'll oil it and leave it alone

Andy

[JCHannum]

It is very similar to these, posted on the other micrometer post. They are metric, made in France. Vintage is probably pre 1900.


[This message has been edited by JCHannum (edited 08-22-2005).]