John Rabone Boxwood and Brass Calliper Gauges
Pocket instruments of boxwood and brass, Rabone’s caliper gauges fused compact ingenuity with workshop-grade precision.
Source: Stable MARK - own work.
Inside you’ll find a clear tour of Rabone’s boxwood-and-brass caliper gauges—No. 1206, 1466, and 2444—how their scales work, what G.S. mounts mean, sizes and uses, plus dating tips drawn from period catalog pages and close-up photos.
Table of Contents
John Rabone Brass Calliper Gauge No. 1466John Rabone Boxwood and Brass Calliper Gauge No. 1206John Rabone Boxwood and Brass Calliper Gauge No. 1464John Rabone Boxwood and Brass Calliper Gauge No. 2376John Rabone One-Foot Four-Fold Calliper Gauge No. 2444John Rabone Brass Calliper Gauge No. 1466
Source: Internet Archive
This is the John Rabone No. 1466 brass caliper gauge, measuring 3½ inches in length with a ⅝ inch width. Marked in both 32nds of an inch and millimetres, it was designed for compact yet precise measurement work. A classic example of mid-20th-century British toolmaking, it was sold individually at a price of 8 shillings.
Vintage brass caliper gauge rule No 1466 by J Rabone & Sons
(original price: 15.00 GBP)
(18300) 100.00% positive
See More Still curious? Click here to see John Rabone Spirit Levels and Plumbs.
John Rabone Boxwood and Brass Calliper Gauge No. 1206
Source: Internet Archive
The John Rabone No. 1206 caliper gauge features engraved scales for both circumference and diameter, with a sliding rule that reveals tables of breaking loads for steel ropes and the weight of manilla and hemp ropes. Made in England, it was available in 4-inch and 6-inch versions and could be ordered with either London or metric markings. A robust tool for riggers, engineers, and rope manufacturers of the early 20th century.
Vintage J. Rabone & Sons Rope Gauge, No. 1206 4-Inch Version in Wood and Brass!
(original price: 32.50 GBP)
(206) 100.00% positive
See More Still curious? Click here to see John Rabone Tape Measures.
John Rabone Boxwood and Brass Calliper Gauge No. 1464
Source: Internet Archive
The gauge features a brass slide graduated in 32nds of an inch, with the reverse side marked in 8ths and 16ths. The caliper jaws are designed to allow both internal and external measurements.
Vintage Rare Rabone Caliper Rule No 1464 Boxwood Brass 5" Measuring Gauge Slide
(original price: 52.68 GBP)
(685) 99.80% positive
See More Still curious? Click here to see John Rabone Folding Boxwood Rules.
John Rabone Boxwood and Brass Calliper Gauge No. 2376
Source: John Rabone & Sons. Measuring Rules, Engine Divided Steel Straight Edges, Measuring Tapes with Metallic Wire, Steel, & Linen Tapes, Brass, Iron, and Wood Spirit Levels, &c. Birmingham: John Rabone & Sons, Hockley Abbey Works, July 1878. Title page. Internet Archive. Public domain.
The Rabone No. 2376 is a dual-scale caliper with integrated reference tables for working with ropes and cables. The slide includes circumference and diameter measurements, plus breaking loads for steel wire ropes on one side and weights for manilla and hemp ropes on the reverse. A valuable pocket tool for riggers, engineers, and rope handlers of the industrial age.
ANTIQUE J. RABONE & SONS BRASS & BOXWOOD ROPE GAUGE measure 1206 calipure rule
(original price: 25.00 GBP)
(3458) 100.00% positive
See More Still curious? Click here to see more John Rabone Tools.
John Rabone One-Foot Four-Fold Calliper Gauge No. 2444
Source: John Rabone & Sons. Measuring Rules, Engine Divided Steel Straight Edges, Measuring Tapes with Metallic Wire, Steel, & Linen Tapes, Brass, Iron, and Wood Spirit Levels, &c. Birmingham: John Rabone & Sons, Hockley Abbey Works, July 1878. Title page. Internet Archive. Public domain.
From the one-foot, four-fold ivory series, the No. 2444 combines a folding rule with a sliding caliper for inside measurement. Inch-marked and fitted with G.S. mounts for durability, it was listed in 1878 at 14 shillings each.
Learn More Still curious? Click here to learn about the The History and the Legacy of John Rabone & Sons.
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