Below is a micrometer caliper. In particular , this is a one inch outside micrometer caliper. It measures outside dimensions from zero to one inch by thousandths of an inch. A two inch outside micrometer would measure from one to two inches, and a three inch from two to three inches, etc. This particular “mic” was made by the J.T. Slocomb Company, of Providence, Rhode Island, probably sometime in the 1940’s.
J.T. Slocomb calipers were well-regarded by machinists. They were noted for their robustness and unique means for wear adjustment, which made the calipers last longer (the opposite of the way things are made nowadays). Page 89 of the 1920 catalog is a cutaway view of a model 25 micrometer (below).
Here’s a model 35 and its page in the catalog.
Like most tool companies of the time, the inside of their catalog had a picture of the factory. Not the most impressive building then or now , (see image below) but their product line was only micrometer calipers and countersink drill bits, so a gigantic complex wasn’t necessary. Sometime in the 1950’s, they moved from Providence, Rhode Island to Glastonbury, Connecticut. The old factory (actually their second one in Providence) has been converted to commercial storage.
Edit 5/3/10..
Below is a scan of the instruction sheet that came with Slocomb micrometers.
August 7th, 2008 - 12:10 am
great post. As far as I can tell, they are still in operation, although their website is not working.
October 19th, 2009 - 1:09 pm
I appreciated finding your site as I was looking up history for my slocomb mic. Seeing the catalog print was very cool, I’ll print that out for my notes. Really enjoyed your other posts, nice to see another person who recognizes the need for fifteen vices! Keep up the good work!
Mike
October 19th, 2009 - 1:44 pm
Thanks Mike.
November 2nd, 2009 - 1:30 pm
Other variant is possible also
April 20th, 2010 - 5:38 pm
Peteski.
My use of Slocomb micrometers was in a non production environment however I have talked with machinists who preferred them .
May 3rd, 2010 - 3:52 pm
PICKED UP A JT SLOCUMB WE5 1 INCH MICROMETER ITS .002 OUT , CANT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADJUST IT ???? dugresautorepair@yahoo.com
May 3rd, 2010 - 6:23 pm
Paul, I edited the post to include the instruction sheet. You’ll need a special little spanner wrench though.
Good luck.
January 21st, 2011 - 12:20 pm
I am a 70 year young retired engineer in my hobby shop I have a model 35 mike
in its box with its guarantee and caution slip . it was my fathers mike before me but is still in used A wonderful tool.
April 8th, 2011 - 4:51 pm
i HAVE A MICROMETER IN A BOX. tHE BOX LID SAYS SUPREME 1′ MICROMETER.
PART NUMBER 161201. CAN YOU TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
April 19th, 2011 - 11:18 pm
I am selling a Slocomb 26 inch micrometer and thought someone here might like to know. Any info would be great.
You can follow this link:
http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-equipment-Large-26-Inch-Aluminum-Micrometre-J-T-Slocomb-Co-Pat-1896-W0QQAdIdZ262357675
Cheers,
Mark
June 3rd, 2011 - 12:53 pm
Anyone have any idea what these great old micrometers are worth? I have the one inch and the next two sizes up.
Thanks,
Bill
June 27th, 2011 - 5:49 pm
I have a 1-2″ pair with two date’s one a patent date of (off hand) Apr 96′ ( I assume 1897) and a date below that June 23, 97′. They calibrated..Anybody know what them dates mean…is the second date a manufacturing date.
Any value…?
Grinder
November 5th, 2012 - 7:55 pm
Grinder,
Wow, you have a 1-2″ original mic: The first date is the manufacturing date of that style mic. the actual date of your mic would be on the certificate of course. So, we can’t know for sure when it was manufactured without it. The second date is the 100 year anniversary of that particular micrometer.
Ex J T Slocomb employee.
The company also liquidated and the building structure demolished some time around 2002-5.