[AT] Woodworking level

Thu Mar 22 21:30:28 PDT 2018

Mark,

Thanks for the added info.  I have learned a little more about this type of level. It is called a Masonry Level as you have pointed out.  The brass on this level is quite substantial so my guess is this particular level goes back to at least the 70’s or 80’s.  I am not a Mason but I can see how a level of this substance might be a prized too.  Now that I have the brass all shiny again and the Mahogany oiled using WD40 it looks so damned good I’m going to hang it on the wall.  As a piece of decorative art.  I don’t think I could ever use this as a tool for Masonry since it is in such good shape.   Only a couple minor dents in the brass.   To me it is kind of like hanging a rifle or shotgun on the wall that has quality wood in the stock and some scrolling on the receiver. It just looks good to me.   So for $5 and some elbow grease and a little WD40 I have a wall decoration that is pleasant to the eye w/o the issues associated with a gun hanging on the wall. Sometimes simple things give me much pleasure.

Dean VP

Apache junction, AZ

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of Mark Weinheimer
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2018 2:46 PM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] Woodworking level

Hey Dean,

Nice Level!  I always used brass bound mahogany levels, back in the 70's and 80's when I was doing mason work.  They clean up easier and sit more soundly on the work than aluminum levels do.  They were every mason's most prized tools. At one time I had 2 2 footers and 2 4 footers.  One set was used for ordinary work and the other only came out for setting corners and other fussy work.  They were great tools

The newer ones I've seen have very flimsy brass or aluminum binding. The word is that they have been superseded for real work by Crick stainless bound levels, out of Texas. I'm tempted to take the plunge and order a pair, as I have a couple of home masonry projects coming up, now that I'm retired.

Regards to the group,

Mark

On Mon, Mar 19, 2018 at 3:15 AM, Mattias Kessén <davidbrown950 at gmail.com <mailto:davidbrown950 at gmail.com> > wrote:

Nice level!

Med vänlig hälsning

Mattias Kessén

Hässelstad Solhöjden 2

594 93 Gamleby

070-523 59 00

2018-03-19 5:25 GMT+01:00 Dean VP <deanvp at att.net <mailto:deanvp at att.net> >:

No, that was the previous weekend.  The same weekend as the Apache Junction Antique Tractor show.

Dean VP

Apache junction, AZ

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com <mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> > On Behalf Of a_dickinson at att.net <mailto:a_dickinson at att.net> 
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2018 7:43 PM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com <mailto:at at lists.antique-tractor.com> >
Subject: Re: [AT] Woodworking level

Was that the same weekend that Nascar was at Phoenix?

From: Dean VP <mailto:deanvp at att.net> 
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2018 9:26 PM
To: 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group' <mailto:at at lists.antique-tractor.com> 
Subject: Re: [AT] Woodworking level

Tom,

I would expect the engine count to be equal to or maybe even more than the tractor count.  I didn’t count the # of tractors but I don’t think I would be far off at 25.  Some were lined up to pull most of the time so they were not all in one place at any time. I guess I could count them on the pictures I took.  There was a mistaken weather forecast for rain and caused the engines and swap meet to be mostly in buildings which were spread out a bit and not really organized as we have gotten used to in the past.  I think the rain forecast really inhibited exhibitors of tractors as well as swap meet vendors.  Cottonwood is usually a windy and dusty show but I suspect if there was any kind of substantial rain it would turn into a muddy mess real quick.  The swap meet vendors were really complaining.  The tractor and engine guys just adapted to what was there. I didn’t go Saturday. I hope they had better attendance and more exhibitors on Saturday or the show club may have gotten hurt pretty bad financially. A weird traffic situation occurred on the way home. As soon as we got on I17 South at Camp Verde at about 3:30PM the Interstate was at a dead stop and then moved very slowly for about a ½ hour or more.  Camp Verde is at least an hour out of Phoenix so Friday afternoon commute traffic wasn’t the issue. Going up the two mountain passes was stop and go. Going down things opened up.  Never did see a reason for the slow traffic.  Kind of weird. 

Here is a picture of the Level I purchased at the Swap meet for $5 AFTER I polished the brass a bit with steel wool and also used steel wool on the Mahogany wood.  Then since my wife didn’t have the kind of furniture polish I wanted, I just used WD 40 to give the Mahogany some depth and color.  Turned out really nice.  It will look good hanging on the wall.  The level works good in all directions and the six bubbles all do there thing correctly.  But….  It is too good looking to have out on a job.   These kinds of things are like rifles and shotguns hanging on the wall to me.(not safe to do that anymore)   I have 6 Persimmon wood head golf clubs hanging on the wall too.  Just one of my quirks. 

Dean VP

Apache junction, AZ

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com <mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> > On Behalf Of Tom Thal
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2018 9:19 AM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com <mailto:at at lists.antique-tractor.com> >
Subject: Re: [AT] Woodworking level

Dean, I have been to that a few times, including 2013 when I set up at the swap meet and sold some Farmall parts. It seemed like fewer tractors showed up during over the years. The stationery engines seemed to be more predominant. What was your experience? 

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: Dean VP < <mailto:deanvp at att.net> deanvp at att.net> 
Date: 16/03/2018 8:50 PM (GMT-08:00) 
To: 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group' < <mailto:at at lists.antique-tractor.com> at at lists.antique-tractor.com> 
Subject: [AT] Woodworking level 

Went to an Antique Tractor show in Cottonwood, AZ which was a bit of a bust but did make a score or two at the swap meet. One that I’m hoping someone on the list can point me in the right direction to find more information about.  It is a 48” Brass and Mahogany Wood Working Level that is in pretty darn good shape with no broken glass and all vials seem to be working properly.  It is made By American Level Manufacturing Co. Detroit, MI and appears to be model 60302 that is engraved in the wood.  It appears the company may have been held by a Foreign Holding company which is no longer in business. My plan is to try to restore the Brass and the Mahogany wood back to as close to original condition as possible.  And just probably just make a wall hanging out of it. But now that I own this I am curious if there is anything more to learn about this level.   Google searching has not been very successful. Ay ATIS list members into this kind of stuff who could direct me to where I might find out more info? I didn’t spend much purchasing this but it appeared to me to be something that would restore well and has an old world craftsman look to it. 

Dean VP

Apache junction, AZ

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Mark Weinheimer
Retired

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