Spendy Calipers

This information is taken from _Metalworking: Yesterday and Tomorrow_ (1977), a special 100th anniversary edition of American Machinist and Kenneth Cope's _Makers of American Machinist's Tools_ (Astragal Press, 1994). briefly: In 1850 Joseph R. Brown invented a linear dividing engine and began making and selling graduated rules. In 1853 Brown's apprentice of 5 years, Lucian Sharpe became partner and the firm J.R. Brown & Sharpe was formed. (Reorganization of the company in 1868 with additional partners occurred with the name being changed to Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Co.) Meanwhile about 1852 Samuel Darling in Bangor Maine invented a dividing engine which worked on different principles (described variously as "at least as accurate..." as Brown's [Metalworking] and "superior to the J.R. Brown machines" [Cope]). The Darling engine apparently used old saw blades for the dividing increments. Darling was very secretive about the design. After a 14 year price war with Brown & Sharpe, Darling went in to partnership with B&S forming Darling, Brown & Sharpe. This entity operated in Providence but was separate from Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Co. In early 1892 Darling's interest was bought out. The Darling, Brown and Sharpe name continued in use on precision instruments as a courtesy to Darling until his death in

So this is a collector's item, no newer than circa 1896, apparently in very good condition and very complete (even with instructions). Arguably the price of such things really comes down to the "willing seller-willing buyer" principle. David Lindquist snipped-for-privacy@aol.com

"larry g"

Yes. Samuel Darling was a Bangor, ME, tool builder who developed rule making there as Darling & Schwartz. His business merged with the rule making part of J. R. Brown & Sharpe, in Providence, RI, in 1866. Darling was bought out by B&S in the early 1890s.

The DB&S catalog pages (1890) reproduced in Ken Cope's "Makers of AmMachinist's Tools" show both an "improved" vernier, and a "pocket" vernier. Frank Morrison