Show and/or tell your obsolete science/engineering accoutrements

[Multicore]

Even the older Porsches (356?) were probably designed on a drafting table... though, probably not using the 'mechanical pencils' just yet!

Back then quite possibly using a Fallminenstift (lead holder) rather than a Druckbleistift like yours.

I don't have any info on antique Fallminenstift but I have a contemporary Kaweco Sport like this one. It is short and stubby like all the Kaweco Sport writing instruments.

Here's a Staedtler Mars model 780, also a current model but not in my collection.

Personally, I much prefer using wooden pencils, which I really enjoy and have a bit of a collection of, but all contemporary, so not really for this thread.

 

[respice finem]

Back then quite possibly using a Fallminenstift (lead holder) rather than a Druckbleistift like yours.

I don't have any info on antique Fallminenstift but I have a contemporary Kaweco Sport like this one. It is short and stubby like all the Kaweco Sport writing instruments.

View attachment 497260

Here's a Staedtler Mars model 780, also a current model but not in my collection.

View attachment 497264

Personally, I much prefer using wooden pencils, which I really enjoy and have a bit of a collection of, but all contemporary, so not really for this thread.

Largely made obsolete today by Keineminekeinstift (software).

 

[Multicore]

Largely made obsolete today by Keineminekeinstift (software).

Indeed, I think technical writing instruments fit the rubric obsolete science/engineering accoutrements very well.

 

[respice finem]

Not only technical stuff, more and more kids can't do handwriting properly...

 

[Deleted member 43957]

Nothing like going to the barber for a haircut and good bloodletting. Theodoric of York was a leading practitioner and pioneer in the field.

 

[respice finem]

Nothing like going to the barber for a haircut and good bloodletting. Theodoric of York was a leading practitioner and pioneer in the field.

Reminds me of a silly joke:

A hare was a (clumsy) apprentice in a rather brutal bear's barber shop. A camel stopped by for a proper (open razor) shave. Looking at the camel's face, the hare got the shivers, and instantly cut him. The bear saw it and attempted to slap the hare, but it was faster, so the camel caught a black eye. The next try ended the same way. The third attempt ended worse, the exasperated hare had cut the camel's ear off. Then the camel said to the hare: kick the ear under the cabinet - if the bear sees it, he's gonna kill me.

 

[rdenney]

If no photos, it didn't happen!
Went back many pages to refresh my mind... but I don't see any photos of your cache of 'obsolete science/engineering accoutrements', as proof.

I must not qualify as 'old machinist' , as I am not familiar with Brown & Sharpe [pix pls].

The only Lufkin (made in USA) remaining in my inventory is this one:
View attachment 497065
(circa 1970s)

I’m at the airport and these are all the pics I have handy.

A Starrett dial caliper and a B&S Bestest test indicator on a surface gauge, while repairing a bent tuba valve:

An old and excellent Soviet-era metric micrometer:

A Lufkin tenths-reading dial indicator. These can drive you crazy.

A pair of Mitutoyo dial indicators used for tramming a mill:

A Starrett vernier height gauge for use on the granite surface plate:

My Lufkin large mics:

My Starrett small mics:

That’s enough for now. There is much more

Rick “but these are old without being obsolete” Denney

 

[xanalog]

Impressive collection....

That’s enough for now. There is much more

In the last picture of your post (5 micrometers); I had one of those 1/2inch micrometers. I rarely ever used it, as it was just too small to fit in my hand and reliably operate.

OT: Most of my machinist accoutrements were poached by (my dear) siblings; during the family estate free-for-all, postmortem scavenging week, in my absence!

 

[Multicore]

Rick “but these are old without being obsolete” Denney

I'll allow it.

And thanks for the photos.

 

[xanalog]

Little OT:
First year college, we had to take that old-skool 'drafting' course.
During class, the professor would come over to my drafting table and tell me that I really should be going for "Graphics Arts".
I hadn't a clue what that was but did not want to seem that ignorant; so, I'd just shrug my shoulders at him, as he moved on.

Heck, if someone put a gun to my head and gave me the option to draw; I'd tell him to just pull the trigger already.

 

[rdenney]

Impressive collection....

In the last picture of your post (5 micrometers); I had one of those 1/2inch micrometers. I rarely ever used it, as it was just too small to fit in my hand and reliably operate.

OT: Most of my machinist accoutrements were poached by (my dear) siblings; during the family estate free-for-all, postmortem scavenging week, in my absence!

The small mics are both 0-1”—one has a friction thimble and the other a ratcheting thimble. One of them also has carbide anvils.

Rick “seems to be a micrometer magnet” Denney

 

[xanalog]

The small mics are both 0-1”—one has a friction thimble and the other a ratcheting thimble. One of them also has carbide anvils.

I just received this image of my old 1/2" [0-0.5"] Lufkin micrometer:

A decade ago, I had given it (on my 'permanent loan' plan) to a friend, who has gotten some use out of it.

 

[JeffS7444]

Two automotive legends in one photo: Citroën DS and NSU RO80

That NSU looks lovely, but so did my parent's 1974 Audi 100LS. First-generation USA-spec smog controls likely did it no favors, and for the dealer to advise against them buying the fuel-injected 1975 model, the latter must have been pretty grim. Though I didn't yet have a driver's license, I spent plenty of time tidying it up every weekend. It had some pretty unconventional features, including inboard front disc brakes.

 

[JeffS7444]

We've forgotten one of the most critical scientific engineering instruments... everrrrrr!
View attachment 497145
Even the older Porsches (356?) were probably designed on a drafting table... though, probably not using the 'mechanical pencils' just yet!

Perhaps uze 'awl did not need to use them because you did not make any mistakes!
pffffft!

What, no lead holder + sandpaper pad?

 

[Multicore]

What, no lead holder + sandpaper pad?

Hmm. You make a good point.

 

[Multicore]

C'mon. That ^^ was a good pun.

┐( ͡° ʖ̯ ͡°)┌

 

[xanalog]

C'mon. That ^^ was a good pun.

That stuff (

...lead holder + sandpaper pad...

) were even before the slide-rule and pocket protector days!
You two should've been given yellow flags.

Though, there is one relic, of 'corporate' work, that has apparently been essential since at least 1948.
This 90second youtube clip is better than you guessing it wrong.

 

[VMAT4]

No one has a planimeter?

 

[dougi]

My recent and vintage calculator collection, including a couple of the aforementioned Swiss Micros. Plus a Elektronika MK-52 and an HP-75C computer.

 

[Multicore]

No one has a planimeter?

I don't think we've seen one yet. And I didn't recall ever using one myself.