Posted 4 years ago
AnythingOb…
(1778 items)
Maybe a question more for our resident 'jewelry experts'...??
Anyways, these two tools, in my trade, are both commonly known as and found in most anybody's organ shop or tuner's toolbox -- we call them "toe hole gauges" and use them to measure (and/or make usually minute 'larger' adjustments to) the actual little holes at the bottom of individual organ pipes -- the process of doing so is often a terribly critical part of doing our jobs to make a pipe organ sound its best.
They are both roughly a foot long and feature graduations of 1-20, I'm not sure if those #'s relate to millimeters (or anything else) or not. The chrome plated one is mine from my own toolbox, the brass one belongs to one of my bosses that I simply borrowed for the pics here. We now buy them from a dedicated "pipe organ parts and tools supplier" (yes, there is such a thing) if somebody loses one...but they don't ever tend to bear one of those suppliers' names...
AND SO MY QUESTION: I've always wondered if these things were *also* commonly known (in the jewelry industry) as "ring size gauges". Seems to me like they could actually be (if in fact the graduations/etc are the same?) but I've nonetheless never remembered to grab one of 'em when visiting a real jeweler, in order to ask if I could compare mine to theirs. (!) IF SO, mebbe they're a whole lot cheaper from a domestic jeweler's tool supplier than being imported from Germany (or whatever...) which *i$nt cheap by any mean$...???
Hello, I am looking at a 1986 S.LaRose catalog, they provided tools for jewelers, and for watch makers/repair. They list a similar tool as a "Ring Stick", the non business end was more like a handle than what you have posted. They even list a "Velvet Ring Stick" for presentation purposes. Thanks for posting the tools of your trade. Regards, Lou
Is the tool you posted also called a "Tuner's Cone"? Thanks, Lou
Hello Lou, thanks for your comments. No, a "tuner's cone" is a different sort of tool generally meant to 'close' or 'open' the *top* end of an organ pipe, I've shown a few of those from my toolbox here already:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/255606-antique-brass-pipe-organ-tools--tuning
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/272490-found-another-set-of-brass-organ-pipe-t
Another, more opposite (in a way) kinda organ pipe tool is called a "toe cone", these are more intended to 'close' the same usually rather critically sized little holes at the bottom of any odd pipe. I've shown a few of those here already too:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/255667-more-antique-pipe-organ-brass-tools
and for that matter, not quite so long ago I actually did show my chrome one of these along with another assortment of smaller tools I also use for the same purposes, prompted entirely because of the generosity of fellow CW Member billretirecoll who ever so amazingly kindly and generously packed up one (or 3) of his then recently shown items and mailed them to me, just because I'd otherwise made offhand comments that (for at least the antique sailmaker's tool) it'd be a perfect 'in-between' my chrome toehole gauge and the next smaller one I had then, otherwise an orange plastic handled "awl"... <wow><THANKS AGAIN, Bill!>
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/273399-pointy-things-and-earrings
Thanks for your questions -- hope my explanations make sense -- I'm *more* than happy to show off some of the more unique "tools of my trade"?!! :-) :-) :-)
Here you go Tim:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW6jwWT2soc
I have a Ring Mandrel that I posted too, and I'll show it! :^)
Here's my post Tim, showing some of my rings! :^D
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/217249-my-rings-the-reason-i-wear-my-300-ring