Thread: Euro Delights, Measuring tools from Europe

I think I shied away from that mic Ewan because it had a bit of tarnish on the base. A poor decision that got me ####-bit.

As far as Euro goodness goes I'm a bit boned out. You blokes have seen most of my gear.

BT

I have a Tesa a depth Mic and this dial protractor and a few Swiss indicators.

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

I think I shied away from that mic Ewan because it had a bit of tarnish on the base. A poor decision that got me ####-bit.

As far as Euro goodness goes I'm a bit boned out. You blokes have seen most of my gear.

BT

Have you checked the other rods yet Bob? The sleeve is fixed to the shaft by a grub screw that is hidden under the beveled ring at the top of the sleeve, it just screws off (see pic). This way not only can you adjust the position of the zero point to the sleeve but also where the edge of the sleeve comes to.

Here is a pic of the naked 25-50mm Tesa mic. It also shows the removable ring and grub screw i was talking about above. I also re did the paint on the side plates due to the cleaning removing most of it. I think it needs another coat though.

The talk of cases came up in the tool gloat thread. This being an older mic it has a nicer case, vinyl covered and felt lined with decent quality fittings. The depth mic box is adequate, but the finish quality is pretty poor, especially on the divisions.

Originally Posted by Ueee

Have you checked the other rods yet Bob? The sleeve is fixed to the shaft by a grub screw that is hidden under the beveled ring at the top of the sleeve, it just screws off (see pic). This way not only can you adjust the position of the zero point to the sleeve but also where the edge of the sleeve comes to.

A thorough dissection there Ewan. More thorough than mine. I was ready to ease my Tesa into the Sulo bin. Here are some photos from yesterday that led to my despondency. The first and second photos show the rod position and barrel when the barrel is set at zero. Approximately 0.5mm out of whack. The third shot shows the barrel position when the rod is flush with the base. I have some metric gauge blocks, enough to get me to 75mm. I'll have a fiddle with the mic, the blocks and the boy junior granite plate and report back about zeroing the other rods.

Thanks for the enlightenment about the rear collar.

BT

I first though - "I haven't got much Euro stuff" and then remembered my DTI's (Interapid, Tesa and Brown and Sharpe)
P1010590 (Medium).JPG
Then I realised that there was always the Compac Bore gauges (4 to 25mm - I still don't have confidence in my ability to use them). The foam is shot in these boxes too.
P1010591 (Medium).JPG

Of course, if talking bore gauges then the Interapid is worth mentioning
P1010592 (Medium).JPG
Then there's the level - I'm not sure of it's parentage but it came from a US aircraft factory (Kidder-Stacey) and has metric fasteners. Maybe...
P1010593 (Medium).JPG
Michael

I have some east german micrometers.... Not too bad actually..

I actually find where the swiss excelled was in clock type instruments...

When it comes to everything else most countries are on a par.... Look at the English Taylor Hobson for example with their range of electronic levels, electronic roundness testers, auto collimator's and such...

And the US with HP making the laser inferometer since the 1970's

I have a small number of Moore and Wright micrometers. I reckon my 0-25 .002mm M&W is every bit as well finished and smooth functioning as the Tesas and Etalons.

Then I have an array of Baty dial indicators, made in London and real nice but no match to feel of quality the exudes from my Compacs. My Starrett DIs don't come close to the Batys. They all had their strengths and weaknesses. The quality of some of Starrett's small tools is second to none.

BT

Here is something nice from Cary. GQ has a small Cary indicator. Looks like a little TV.

The device is currently for sale on US Ebay with a BIN of $375.

I have a new set of metric mics from Tesa that are as superb as you would imagine. My imperial stuff is all Etalon and B & S ( sister companies to Tesa under the Hexagon Meteorology tent).

When I started out I had some Starrett things, and some M & W. i sold all of that off after I purchased my first Tesa. The good Euro stuff exists for cheap on the various Euro versions of ebay. All it takes is a polite request to ship to Oz run through Google translator most times.

My metrology tools also feature Carl Mahr from Germany. Good stuff. Interapid too, and Compac. Frankly, they make the famous US stuff look like overpriced, overhyped marketing exercises. If you don't need famous labels, but want US, Lufkin, Scherr-Tumico and B & S made tools every bit as good as Starrett. Often better.

When I started gathering measuring tools I thought that Starrett was the pinnacle. Since then I have come to learn that they are merely good, middle-of-the-road
tools. There are tools as good without the cult pricing that I have mentioned above. Beyond the Euro tools, Mitutoyo and NSK both made great tools.

Another thing...and I am loathe to reveal trade secrets here: a couple of German tool houses sold whole catalogues full of tools re-branded with their house names. Hahn & Kolb is perhaps the most famous brand. You can eBay search that name and find hundreds of items. Every day will reveal an H & K branded Tesa mic for 1/3 of the price of the equivalent Tesa item.

GQ

On wdit: I disn't mean to be so harsh about Starrett tools ingeneral...I was thinking more about their current mics and their Last Word dial indicators. The rest of their old line is great, especially the small hand tools, as Bob mentioned.

Greg

My new Tesa indicator form Israel

Here's a recent find, a Wyler magnetic 0.02mm spirit level.
magnetic_level.jpg

Christian

Man that's sweet. And only 6 years old. P.M me what it cost you, so I can drip tears into my beer.

Very nice Christian

Now one for Phil F...... But a bit more than Christians at 3000euro.....

200mm square, level graduated at .01mm/m accurate to 1um....