Gentle Ones;
Dave Sawyer asks about a Lufkin rule marked:
>>Not sure, but I have a Lufkin no 7122 marked on the back:
N.Y.C & PENNA.
SERIAL NO. E2
APPROVED TYPE
I asked about it a few months ago and no one knew. I thought it was
railroad related, but I guess there never was a NYC and Penn railroad.<<
WHat Dave's asking is not entirely true. In the late 60's / early 70's when
both the Pennsylvania RR (giant mother of an Eastern rail-line with tens of
thousands of miles of right of way, Jeff) & the NY Central (almost equally
behemoth-like rail carrier, Jeff) were going snuff-a-ways, they merged into
the Penn Central. But this likely doesn't have a thing to do with the rule.
However, the rule was likely made for use by both Pennsy & NY Central and was
marked as being approved by both. Since both RR's had big operations in the
NY City metro area with freight & passenger terminals in the city proper
(Penn Station, long since torn down & replaced by dreck and Grand Central
Station, recently refurbished & looking as snappy as ever) and also had
repair yards and facilities in the area, merchants in that region, such as
Hammacher Schlemmer & others would likely have supplied tools to both
railroads. It made good sense to have a rule that was approved by both, so
they could ensure stock on hand and 'keep an edge' over the other rule guys.
That is what I'm thinking. Kind of a neat find, especially if you know any
rail buffs (although most are staunchly in either the Pennsy or NYCentral
camp and might turn a nose up at a 'dual use' item).
So there you have it. Hey how 'bout that, two rule questions in one day for
me - Ed Minch's rag trade rule question earlier & this one..... and I don't
even collect rules... no sir, not me - I've only got about 20, which as you
fine fellows & gals know, doesn't even scratch the surface for a
collection.... at least that's what I tell SWMBO.
Enjoy!!!
Matt Glass - lurching closer to finishing da bench in Nukeville & the proud
new owner of the most amazingly figured piece of 1/4 sawn white oak (meep,
meep!!)
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