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69th Brown Tool Auction - October 30 & 31, 2026. Wyndham Garden, York, PA.

Modern heirloom craftsmanship up for auction at Browns!Four of these stunning lots come from a single, legendary private...
10/13/2026

Modern heirloom craftsmanship up for auction at Browns!

Four of these stunning lots come from a single, legendary private collection of infill planes—where heavy cast steel, brass, and gunmetal are meticulously married to exotic hardwoods like cocobolo, ebony, and rosewood. These tools are the absolute pinnacle of luxury woodworking!

The Lots:
⚙️ Lot 427: Parry Infill Jointer Plane (1999)
Massive 18" dovetailed steel sole on a heavy gunmetal body with premium rosewood infill.
Built with a precise Norris-style adjuster and marked cleanly on the 2-1/2" iron. Good+ condition.
Estimate: $600 – $1,200

🪵 Lot 422: Patrick Marooney Infill Panel Plane
Crafted in Oregon, featuring a 13-1/2" cast steel body with a solid bronze lever cap.
Packed with a breathtaking, highly dramatic cocobolo wood infill. Wood is completely immaculate! Fine condition.
Estimate: $500 – $1,000

🇬🇧 Lot 423: Ray Iles Infill Smoothing Plane
Built by legendary British maker Ray Iles. 8-1/2" gunmetal body with a traditionally dovetailed steel sole.
Stunning exotic wood infill and gunmetal lever cap with Norris adjustment. Fine condition.
Estimate: $500 – $1,000

🖤 Lot 428: Brese Infill Smoothing Plane
Compact 6-1/2" brass body with a steel sole and a striking, pitch-black solid ebony infill.
Marked "Brese Plane 650-55" on the heavy brass lever cap. Good+ near-fine condition.
Estimate: $300 – $600

🌹 Lot 126: Jim Leamy Custom Rosewood Sliding Filletster
Breathtaking solid rosewood body with custom diamond geometric inlays and brass fixtures.
A rare "in-progress" look at a master's craft, showing layout marks for future inlays. Near-mint from the personal Leamy collection! Fine condition.
Estimate: $200 – $400

📆 Auction takes place live, in-person on October 31 in York, PA
🧳 Can’t make it to York?
👉 Click the link below to browse the full catalog, and place absentee bids: https://www.finetoolj.com

👑 AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS: Elite "Challenge" Jointers & Mythically Rare British Patent Smoothers Hit the Block! 👑We are thril...
10/12/2026

👑 AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS: Elite "Challenge" Jointers & Mythically Rare British Patent Smoothers Hit the Block! 👑

We are thrilled to present two spectacular, exceptionally scarce pieces of global woodworking innovation in our upcoming auction event! These lots represent two completely different geographic scales of 19th-century mechanical design—ranging from a massive 24-inch American jointer to a pocket-sized, textbook-documented British patent smoothing plane.

The History Behind the Tools:
During the peak of the 1880s tool design wars, independent inventors on both sides of the Atlantic scrambled to perfect direct mechanical screw blade adjustments. Moving away from standard wooden wedges or complex lever systems, these makers used heavily engineered, direct-threaded screws to dial in micro-precise cutting depths. Because these experimental production runs were incredibly expensive and short-lived, surviving examples are considered absolute trophies for advanced patented plane collectors.

Here is a closer look at these investment-grade masterpieces crossing the block:
🦅 Lot 662: "Challenge" 24-Inch Cast-Iron Jointer Plane
The History: This is a monumental piece of American tool engineering. The massive 24" footprint was the absolute powerhouse of the workshop.
The Details: This highly coveted variant features the official factory patent date and the legendary name "Challenge" cast boldly and cleanly directly into the iron bed plate just ahead of the rear tote handle (with the correct, un-marked yoke configuration).
Condition: Graded Good. The iron frame preserves authentic traces of its original factory black japanning finish, paired with light, honest surface corrosion on the massive steel cutter blade. The original hardwood tote handle shows minor wear to its top protective lacquer coat but suffers absolutely zero damage or structural cracks.
Estimate: $750 – $1,500

🇬🇧 Lot 343: John Munks & Son 1884 British Patent Smoothing Plane
The History: Manufactured in the famous steel capital of Sheffield, England, by John Munks & Son, this ultra-compact smoother utilizes a highly unique direct-screw blade adjustment mechanism patented in the UK in 1884. Its specialized mechanical lineage heavily mirrors the logic of the American Challenge planes.
The Details: Measures an ultra-compact 6-5/8" long, featuring a distinct cast-iron tote handle and a 1-1/8" unmarked factory cutter iron.
Condition: Graded Good. It retains a highly honest 50% of its original black factory japanning finish with zero structural damage or cracks.
Provenance: From the prestigious private collection of Norm Otto.
Estimate: $400 – $800

📆 Auction takes place live, in-person on October 31 in York, PA
🧳 Can’t make it to York?
👉Click the link below to browse the full catalog, and absentee bid!
https://www.finetoolj.com

An Ultra-Rare Experimental Type 1 Rodier Patent 21-1/2" Jointer Plane! 👑An exceedingly rare Type 1 Rodier Patent Jointer...
10/12/2026

An Ultra-Rare Experimental Type 1 Rodier Patent 21-1/2" Jointer Plane! 👑

An exceedingly rare Type 1 Rodier Patent Jointer Plane! This monumental piece of late-19th-century American tool engineering hails directly from the prestigious private collection of Harold Unruh.

The History Behind the Masterpiece:
Patented on June 24, 1879, by Louis C. Rodier and manufactured by the Laflin Manufacturing Company, Rodier planes are the stuff of legend among patented plane purists. Rodier’s incredibly ambitious design was built to simultaneously adjust both the depth of the cutter and the width of the throat mouth using a single mechanism.
While most of his rare surviving tools utilize a distinct "faucet handle" dial, tool scholars suggest that this specific vertical coil-spring variation was an elite, experimental trial design that had a microscopic production run. This investment-grade specimen features his legendary, beautiful corrugated sidewalls and the iconic serpentine-waved grooves cast directly into the bottom of the iron sole to eliminate friction vacuum.

Here is a closer look at this museum-grade treasure crossing the block:
🛠️ Lot 533: Rodier Patent Type 1 Experimental Jointer Plane
The Blueprint: A commanding 21-1/2" long edge-flattening jointer frame operating a wide 2-3/8" premium Buck Brothers cutter iron. (Documented in PTAMPIA I, Figure 225).
The Rarest Stamping: The lever cap is cast with a magnificent, elite factory detail: "L.C. Rodier's Pat" along with the 1879 patent date arranged in a perfect circle wrapped around a central star. This star-branding variation has been documented on only a tiny handful of surviving planes in history.
Condition: Graded Good+. The original factory black japanning remains a strong 75% complete and intact. The heavy cast iron sole and wood handles are exceptionally clean and crisp throughout, noting only a few honest paint speckles and one typical, historic chip out of the very tip of the rear tote handle.
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000

📆 Auction takes place live, in-person on October 31 in York, PA
🧳 Can’t make it to York?
👉Click the link below to browse the full catalog, and absentee bid!
https://www.finetoolj.com

🗺️ CHARTING THE WILDERNESS: Three Exceptional 19th-Century Surveyor's Compasses Hit the Auction Block! 🗺️We are thrilled...
10/11/2026

🗺️ CHARTING THE WILDERNESS: Three Exceptional 19th-Century Surveyor's Compasses Hit the Auction Block! 🗺️

We are thrilled to showcase a spectacular trio of early American surveyor's compasses in our upcoming auction event! These precision instruments represent the raw craftsmanship, mathematics, and grit required to map out the borders, railways, and cities of the growing United States.

The History Behind the Instruments:
Before modern GPS and satellite mapping, early American surveyors trekked into untamed forests with heavy tripods and brass instruments to draw the literal lines of our nation. While major titans like W. & L.E. Gurley grew to mass-manufacture high-precision brass gear in the late 19th century, earlier eras relied on regional masters—or even wooden-bodied instruments hand-carved by local makers using paper dial cards. These tools tell an incredible evolutionary story of American engineering, and finding them complete with original sighting vanes and dial covers is a major win for scientific instrument collectors.

Here is a closer look at the historic lots crossing the block:
🌲 Lot 529: T.S. Bowles Early Surveyor's Wooden Compass
The History: A spectacular, exceedingly early piece of New England maritime and land surveying history, crafted by the renowned maker T.S. Bowles of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The Details: Features an exceptional wooden body structure housing a 5-1/4” needle, a full paper card dial face, hand-carved wooden sighting vanes, and a wooden dial cover with a historic user’s name proudly carved right into it.
Condition: Graded Good+. In exceptionally nice condition for its age and delicate wooden nature. Comes nestled in a later protective wooden case.
Estimate: $350 – $700

⚓ Lot 527: William Ewin Baltimore Engraved Vernier Compass
The History: Crafted by master maker William Ewin of Baltimore, Maryland. This piece features a distinct "English style" layout layout with West positioned on the right side of the card—a design quirk highly unique to early Baltimore manufacturers.
The Details: Houses a 4-3/4" needle, crossed level vials at the North and South positions, and its original sighting vanes. The silvered dial card is beautifully engraved with an elegant fleur-de-lis at North, and "William Ewin, Baltimore" at the center, with "Warranted" and serial No. 149 at South.
Condition: Graded Good. The north arm features a historic hole where a mechanical tally counter was originally mounted. The brass shows a heavy, authentic oxidized patina, and the silvered card shows light, honest corrosion. The separate vernier adjustment arm is safely included in the box.
Estimate: $200 – $400

🗽 Lot 528: W. & L.E. Gurley Vernier Compass (G.S. Woolman Agent Variant)
The History: Produced by the gold standard of American scientific instruments, W. & L.E. Gurley of Troy, New York. What makes this specific specimen highly collectible is the secondary engraving reading "G.S. Woolman, Agent, New York" right under Gurley's name. Woolman acted as Gurley's exclusive New York City distributor during the late 1880s.
The Details: Features a massive 5-3/4" needle, an external vernier, crossed levels at North, original sighting vanes, a built-in tally counter at South, and its rare original dial cover plate! The silver card boasts a gorgeous engraved fleur-de-lis at North.
Condition: Graded Good+. The brass retains a light, honest tarnish but is overall exceptionally clean and crisp.
Estimate: $200 – $400

📆 Auction takes place live, in-person on October 31 in York, PA
🧳 Can’t make it to York?
👉Click the link below to browse the full catalog, and absentee bid!
www.finetoolj.com

A Mythic, Unproduced Justus Traut Patent Prototype Hollow & Round Set! An unbelievably rare, unproduced Justus Traut Pat...
10/10/2026

A Mythic, Unproduced Justus Traut Patent Prototype Hollow & Round Set!

An unbelievably rare, unproduced Justus Traut Patent Prototype Hollow & Round Plane Set, is coming to Browns!

The History Behind the Piece:
On July 30, 1878, legendary Stanley Rule & Level Company inventor Justus Traut patented a radically ambitious concept. Long before combination planes were standardized, Traut designed a system where matched pairs of wooden hollow and round profile bottoms—each carrying its own dedicated cutter iron—could be mechanically clamped onto a universal, cast-iron Stanley-type plane frame using two quick-locking toggles.

While the patent was granted, tool historians and corporate archives universally agree that this revolutionary system was never put into commercial factory mass production. Because it was scrapped at the design stage, only a tiny handful of experimental trial sets were hand-machined inside the Stanley factory walls. Scholars have only ever documented one other physical example in existence—making this an absolute "holy grail" prototype discovery.

Here is an intimate look at this historic, investment-grade lot:
🛠️ Lot 535: Justus Traut 1878 Patent Prototype Hollow & Round Set
The Architecture: The heavy-duty iron factory frame features Stanley's iconic, highly elegant early serpentine casting profile on the rear handle tote.
The Inventory: This prototype kit includes two complete, matched hollow and round wooden pairs, each retaining its correct custom cutter iron and toggle-clamping footprint.
The Housing: The entire assembly arrives safely nestled inside an unmarked, industrial wooden storage box built to protect the experimental pieces on the factory floor.
Condition: Graded Good+—exceptionally clean, crisp, and structurally sound.
Provenance: From the prestigious private collection of Harold Unruh.
Estimate: $1,200 – $2,400

Only a few short weeks till auction day, don't miss it!

📆 Auction takes place live, in-person on October 31 in York, PA
🧳 Can’t make it to York?
👉Click the link below to browse the full catalog, and absentee bid!

https://www.finetoolj.com

✨⚙️Patented in 1870, Miller's Patent planes are legendary for their ornate Victorian ironwork, deep coppery gunmetal cas...
10/10/2026

✨⚙️Patented in 1870, Miller's Patent planes are legendary for their ornate Victorian ironwork, deep coppery gunmetal castings, and complex interchangeable attachments. Finding them complete with their original cutter boxes, optional filletster beds, and bullnose extensions is a massive event for serious type-collectors! ⚙️✨

The Lots:
👑 Lot 757: Stanley No. 42 Miller's Patent (Type 3A)
Gunmetal body with the deep, coppery hue typical of the earliest models.
Includes its correct cast-iron filletster bed. Near-fine condition and one of the most attractive examples in existence! Fine condition.
From the Bill Webber collection.
Estimate: $400 – $800

🪵 Lot 20: Stanley No. 44 Miller's Patent (Type 7)
Super clean wood and iron iron frame.
Includes a complete set of original cutters in their original factory wooden box! Good+ condition.
From the Norm Otto collection.
Estimate: $400 – $800

⚡ Lot 746: Stanley No. 141 (Late Nickel Plated Type)
Like-new, pristine factory nickel plating.
100% complete with the optional bullnose attachment, filletster bed, both depth stops, and slitter! Fine condition.
From the Bill Webber collection.
Estimate: $300 – $600

🖤 Lot 6: Stanley No. 43 Miller's Patent (Type 2)
Early Type 2 variant boasting an incredible 95% original factory japanning intact.
Clean metal and wood with a historic user-name stamp on the tote. Includes 9 cutters. Fine condition.
From the Norm Otto collection.
Estimate: $250 – $500

🛠️ Lot 514: Stanley No. 141 (Early Japanned Type)
The highly collectible early black-japanned version of the No. 141.
Includes its original bullnose attachment. 75% japanning in Good+ condition.
Estimate: $250 – $500

📆 Auction takes place live, in-person on October 31 in York, PA
🧳 Can’t make it to York?
👉Click the link below to browse the full catalog, and absentee bid!
www.finetoolj.com

📜 COLONIAL RELICS: Museum-Grade 18th-Century Molding Planes with Incredible Histories Hit the Block! 📜We are deeply hono...
10/09/2026

📜 COLONIAL RELICS: Museum-Grade 18th-Century Molding Planes with Incredible Histories Hit the Block! 📜

We are deeply honored to present a spectacular lineup of pre-Revolutionary and Federal-era 18th-century molding planes in our upcoming auction! These aren't just old woodworking tools—they are four-star historical artifacts that hand-shaped the foundational architecture of early America.

Before factories existed, colonial planemakers hand-carved these rugged wooden planes from heavy beech. They are instantly recognizable by their 9-1/2" to 10" long bodies, decorative hand-fluting, and deeply struck maker stamps. This selection includes pieces from legendary collections and features some of the rarest "Four-Star" makers in early American history.

Here is a closer look at these living pieces of American craftsmanship crossing the block:

🪓 Lot 391: E. Smith 18th-Century Molding Plane (Unlisted Variant Stamping)
The History: An absolute puzzle for tool historians and scholars! Stamped "E. Smith, Warranted" on the toe, this mark features an highly unusual, undocumented edge shape on the Smith name plate that differs from any listed variant in American Wooden Planes (AWP).
The Details: Measures 9-1/2" long, spring-marked to cut a complex 1" oval and astragal profile. Beautifully decorated with classic hand-rounded chamfers and elegant fluting at both the toe and heel.
Condition: Graded Good+. The wood has survived with only very light, minimal wear over the last 240+ years.
Provenance: From the prestigious private collection of Hank Allen.
Estimate: $125 – $250

🪓 Lot 395: Hezekiah Niles 18th-Century Reed & Hollow Plane (Tragic History)
The History: Stamped by Hezekiah Niles, an elite, highly coveted four-star planemaker working out of his Market Street carpentry shop in Massachusetts. Niles' story is one of the most famous tragedies in early American craft, he was prematurely killed in 1791 by a falling storefront sign just as he was walking out of his own shop doorway. His son, Samuel, took over the business to carry on the family legacy.
The Details: A 10" long reed and hollow plane featuring early narrow flat chamfers. Note that it currently holds a non-original, incorrect cutter iron.
Condition: Graded Good- with moderate historic wear and typical age staining.
Estimate: $125 – $250

🪓 Lot 602: E. Smith 18th-Century Custom Molding PlaneThe Profile: Measures a compact 9-1/2" long, beautifully spring-marked to execute a complex, architectural 1" oval and astragal molding profile. A gorgeous testament to 18th-century design. The stock is masterfully hand-shaped with elegant, traditional rounded chamfers and custom decorative hand-fluting carved cleanly into both the toe and the heel.
Condition: Graded Good+. An absolute miracle for a tool that has survived roughly 240+ years—the heavy wood stock has been beautifully preserved with only very light, minimal workshop wear.
Estimate: $125 – $250

🪓 Lot 394: Fuller & Field 18th-Century Side Bead Plane
The History: Stamped by Fuller & Field, a highly sought-after three-star planemaking partnership that operated for a very brief window between 1798 and 1805.
The Details: A 10" long plane designed to cut a 3/8" side bead. Features narrow flat chamfers, a classic relieved wedge, and gorgeous decorative hand-fluting accents carved into the heel and toe.
Condition: Graded Good. Shows honest, historic operational wear along the sole plate, but the wood body is otherwise exceptionally clean and crisp.
Estimate: $120 – $240

💬 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Holding a tool crafted in the 1700s—knowing it was used by a colonial artisan before or during the birth of the United States—is a profound experience. The tragic story of Hezekiah Niles proves that behind every stamp is a real human life. If you are a wooden plane collector, does a dramatic history like Niles' make a tool more compelling to you, or do you hunt primarily for unlisted maker variants like the E. Smith? Drop a comment below and tell us your favorite! 👇

👉 📆 Auction takes place live, in-person on October 31 in York, PA
🧳 Can’t make it to York?
👉Click the link below to browse the full catalog, and absentee bid!
www.finetoolj.com

🚨 AUCTION ALERT: A Piece of Woodworking History 🚨Introducing Lot 219: A Masterpiece of Victorian Ingenuity –  Holtzapffe...
10/08/2026

🚨 AUCTION ALERT: A Piece of Woodworking History 🚨

Introducing Lot 219: A Masterpiece of Victorian Ingenuity – Holtzapffel & Co. Ornamental Turning Lathe No. 1741, London, 1840

For serious collectors, historians, and woodworking purists, the name Holtzapffel represents the absolute pinnacle of 19th-century mechanical precision. Founded in London in 1794 by Alsatian emigré John Jacob Holtzapffel, the firm revolutionized "ornamental turning"—a highly complex craft where wood and ivory were transformed into breathtakingly intricate geometric patterns. These extraordinary machines were so expensive that they were historically the exclusive property of European royalty, nobility, and wealthy "gentlemen turners".

This specific lathe, No. 1741, was originally sold on August 26, 1840, to a Mr. Thomas Villery. It comes paired with its spectacular, original two-part mahogany accessory cabinet.

🛠️ Lot Specifications & Features:

The Lathe: Striking mahogany bench featuring a foot treadle powering a 33-inch cast iron bar and a 27-inch wheel.
The Bed: Fitted with an unusually long 47-inch steel bed.
The Headstock: Hand-signed and stamped "1741", equipped with a 5-inch center lathe and 3-inch riser blocks for a total 16-inch swing on the riser. (Note: No overhead setup included).

The Tool Cabinet: A massive 18.5" x 43.5" x 88" two-part mahogany cabinet. The glazed upper section features 5 shelves with custom carved cutouts for specialized accessories. The fold-out doors safely stock 72 turning chisels, predominantly Holtzapffel, alongside 12 drawers packed with additional cutting tools.
Dimensions: Lathe: 53" x 26" x 41"H | Cabinet: 18.5" x 43.5" x 88"H
Condition: Fine
Auction Estimate: $20,000 – $40,000

⚠️ PLEASE NOTE: This historic lot is massive and heavy. Buyers must make appropriate shipping arrangements prior to bidding. Depending on your location, we may be able to arrange delivery, but please contact us to confirm before placing your bids!

📅 Auction Date: In-person auction is on October 31, 2026, at the Wyndham Garden, York, PA. Auction starts at 9:00am.
💎 Take a look at the lathe in person! Auction Preview & Dealer Sale on October 30, 2026 (see www.finetoolj.com for event details)
🔗 Click the link below to view the full catalog entry, browse detailed photos, and place an absentee bid on this historic and beautiful lathe!
📞 Phone bidding is available during the live auction - contact us for more details at [email protected] or (800) 248-8114

https://www.finetoolj.com

🪓 4 Rare & Specialized Vintage AxesEvery historic axe pattern was meticulously forged to solve a specific problem, from ...
10/07/2026

🪓 4 Rare & Specialized Vintage Axes

Every historic axe pattern was meticulously forged to solve a specific problem, from fighting fires to cultivating vineyards.

📸 The Medieval Weapon (Lot 635)

Type: Antique Battle Axe Head

Specs: Massive 17" long, center-hung head

History: Unlike heavy felling axes, true battle axes were forged thin and light for quick, agile movement. This substantial piece features two distinct maker's marks and numerous stamps, making it a spectacular artifact for military history and early metallurgy collectors.

📸 The Emergency Lifeline (Lot 87) : British Strapped Fireman's Axe

Maker: William Gilpin (Wedges Mills, England)

Specs: 4-1/2" blade, 22" length with reinforcement straps

History: Forged by the renowned edge-tool manufacturer William Gilpin, this rugged pattern features long steel overcoat straps running down the handle to prevent the head from breaking loose during heavy rescue operations. Gilpin tools are universally praised by tool collectors for their supreme vintage English steel.

📸 The European Vineyard Tool (Lot 628): Italian Vintner's Axe

Maker: Garsi
Specs: Broad 14" blade on a 16" original handle

History: This hyper-specialized tool features the maker name "Garsi" cast directly into the iron. Vintner's axes were traditional European agricultural implements used for clearing thick, woody vines, splitting stakes, and maintaining old-growth grape arbor systems. Finding one with its original handle intact is exceptionally rare.

📸 The Angled Cultivator (Lot 307) : Unmarked Heritage Vineyard Axe

Specs: Massive 17" blade, 23" original handle

History: A fascinating regional variation of agricultural tool design. This unmarked piece features a massive 17" blade uniquely mounted at an intentional angle to the handle. This offset geometry allowed laborers to cleanly slice down robust roots and clear overgrowth right at the base of vineyard terraces without banging their knuckles against the soil or timber frameworks.

Visit our website to find out more about our upcoming auction:
https://www.finetoolj.com

📏 POINTERS & POCKET MEASURES: Vibrant Mid-Century & Novelty Tape Measures 📏Our upcoming auction is shining a spotlight o...
10/06/2026

📏 POINTERS & POCKET MEASURES: Vibrant Mid-Century & Novelty Tape Measures 📏

Our upcoming auction is shining a spotlight on a highly addictive, visually stunning niche of tool history: Vintage Novelty and Pocket Tape Measures! All three of these fantastic collector lots hail from the renowned collection of David Jeffers.

The History Behind the Tools:
While we often think of tape measures as rugged, industrial steel boxes clipped to a carpenter's belt, the late 19th and mid-20th centuries saw a massive boom in pocket-sized novelty tapes. Manufacturers like Lufkin and the Master Rule Company realized that tape measures could double as elegant pocket accessories, clever advertising gifts, or colorful household notions. From intricate Victorian-style castings to bright, pop-art mid-century plastics, these miniature rules became highly expressive pieces of commercial art. Finding them in near-mint condition with their original fragile cardboard store boxes is incredibly uncommon!

Here is a closer look at these vibrant, pocket-sized treasures crossing the block:

🎼 Lot 702: Cast Metal Decorative Tape Measures (Pair)
The Details: A gorgeous duo of highly ornamental, cast-body novelty tape measures. The first features an incredibly detailed cast scene depicting traditional musicians performing in a rural countryside landscape, outfitted with a premium Lufkin tape inside. The second is beautifully cast into the shape of a realistic seashell, housing an unmarked tape that features both English and metric scales.
Condition: Graded Fine—both items are in spectacular, near-mint condition.
Estimate: $100 – $200

🎙️ Lot 703: Lufkin "Mister Measure" & "Miss Statistic" Graphic Tapes (Pair)
The History: An absolutely classic piece of mid-century corporate character merchandising by the iconic Lufkin Rule Company.
The Details: This lot features two highly graphic pocket rules adorned with cartoon character faces right on the case. "Mister Measure" comes in a 2-1/8" square case, while his counterpart, "Miss Statistic," is housed in a sleek 1-7/8" square case.
Condition: Graded Good+. Miss Statistic is in near-fine shape, while Mister Measure shows a few honest case scratches and a small spot of corrosion on the steel tape line.
Estimate: $100 – $200

🌈 Lot 704: Master Rule Co. "Lady's Man" 6-Foot Tapes (5-Piece Rainbow Set + Original Box!)
The History: Produced by the Master Rule Company, the "Lady's Man" line was designed as a sleek, colorful household or sewing basket accessory.
The Details: A complete collector's dream layout! This lot features five round, 1-3/4" diameter plastic-cased 6-foot tape measures showcasing the iconic "Lady's Man" logo. You get a perfect rainbow spread: one yellow, one blue, one green, one orange, and one pink example. To make it even better, the lot includes one rare original factory box!
Condition: Graded Fine—all five examples survive in near-mint condition.
Estimate: $100 – $200

Pocket tape measures are the ultimate "cross-over" collectible, drawing in tool historians, advertising buffs, and mid-century design fans alike. Don’t miss your chance at these beauties!

📆 Live, in-person auction is October 31 at the Wyndham Garden, York, PA

Can’t make it to York? Click the link below to browse the full catalog, and absentee bid: https://www.finetoolj.com

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