1940s Lufkin Folding Ruler no. 1206

1940s Lufkin Folding Ruler no. 1206

Folded 7"
Unfolded 72"
Model 1206
Produced 1920 - 1950

You know me..I can't pass up on tools! I've shown several of my other wood folding rulers. This one is made of aluminium and has brass hinges. Dating is difficult and the range is 30 years, so I'm making a guess. The earliest ones I have seen are marked slightly different. Also known as "zig-zag" rulers.

The Ruler says oil joints. That is good advice. I know from years as an assembly mechanic that brass as a metal has natural lubricating properties which helps in this application.

TIM-BERRRRR
In 1869, Edward Taylor Lufkin founded E T Lufkin Board & Log Rule Manufacturing Company in Cleveland, Ohio.
Initially they manufactured boards for measuring timber and then later steel measuring tapes,

LUFKIN RULE CO
In 1885 they became the Lufkin Rule Company. The ownership changed and they moved to Saginaw, Michigan.

"The company had purchased the Fringeli Rule Company of Cleveland shortly before the move. The Fringeli brothers then formed the Cleveland Rule Company."

In 1906, they established a plant in Windsor, Ontario. They immediately aquired the Belcher Brothers of Irvington, New Jersey(Belcher Brothers had roots back to 1780 in England. Makers of maple & boxwood rules, they had relocated to America in 1821.)

In 1951 they purchased The Anson Stick Company of North Anson, Maine. This was a strategic move to acquire hard maple lumber for rules.

COOPER AND APEX
"Cooper Industries acquired Lufkin in 1967. Cooper kept the valuable name but closed manufacturing plants. The Apex Tool Group is the present owner."