April 4, 201412 yr I was recently at the auction and saw this small metal level on the table and became very interested in it. I watched to see when it would come up for auction so I could bid on it and hopefully pick it up. Each seller only has some much allotted time and the level never made it to the auction table before time ran out. At the end of the auction, I approached the owner of the level and ask if he was interested in just selling it. Now just so you know the vial was missing from the level at that time. He said yes he would be interesting in selling and so I ask what he thought he would have to have. Ten dollars, so I quickly got my money out and paid him. I recently joined the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association which has a link here on our front page. There was a small ad in the back of the quarterly magazine they put out for Level Repair and Restoration. I contacted the person and he informed me he was pretty sure he had an original vial for that level. How lucky do you get sometimes. So I sent the level to A-1 Level Repair and received a call after he got it. He did indeed have an original vial that was for this level and period correct. So I had him put it in and ship it back to me. This is a Stanley 39 1/2E 6" Iron Machinist Level, Ornate c1900. I have not done any clean up on it yet and these are pictures after getting it back with the new/old vial installed. This is the other side. There is some very light surface rust but no pitting. The only place that any of the plating is missing is here on the top. It does have a Patent date of 6-23-96 (1896). So it is in really good shape and will just get a light clean up, nothing major now that it is an actual working level again. This one will go into my display case. Here is a link to Bob Kaune's site and he has one listed about half way down the page. I think my 10 dollar investment plus the installation of the new/old orginal vial 25.00 plus shipping is a pretty good deal. And if you have a level that needs to be repaired, I would recommend Bob Skogman of A-1 Level Repair. He was an excellent person to talk to and deal with. Very much on the "Level" Happy Patriot Picking to you all. I am out looking all the time. John MoodySite Administratorhttp://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.†Shaker Saying
April 5, 201412 yr That will look sharp in your display case! Lew Kauffman-Wood Turners Forum HostTime Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!
April 5, 201412 yr That turned out really nice John.Allen WorshamCorona, CAallenworsham@earthlink.net'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk.' J. Vernon McGee“Our greatest fear should not be that we won’t succeed, but that we will succeed at something that doesn’t matter.†D.L. Moody
April 5, 201412 yr Great find, indeed!Gene'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton
April 5, 201412 yr Wow John. That will look great in the display case.Wayne MahlerGod bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.
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