Measuring tool from Michigan

[accountantadam]

Good morning everyone - Dad picked this piece up at a yard sale last weekend, and its got me stumped. I believe its brass, its about 3 inches long. I'm thinking maybe its for lumber, but thats just a guess. Anyone from michigan heard of H. Miller? I've tried to do some research on it, but haven't been able to find anything like it. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[epackage]

Could be a lumber gauge, or metal squarestock gauge, stick your pointer finger thru the hole to carry it with you and slip it over the item you want to know the width of????

 

[surfaceone]

Hey Adam,

That is a very nice lumber rule, invented by Hezekiah Miller in 1857. There's an excellent biography of Judge Miller, just here, a many faceted man. Listed here in Brown's Directory, 1879.

 

[botlguy]

That is a very neat item. I really enjoy acquiring things like that. I'm glad also to know what it was used for. Thanks all for sharing.

 

[accountantadam]

Thanks for the info! That article was a good read.

 

[BillinMo]

Very cool! The depth of knowledge around here always amazes me. Thanks, Surface!

My grandfather owned his own machine and wood shop (mainly for fence and wood processing tools) and he had a similar gauge on his keychain, but I'm sure it was a modern machine-made thing and nowhere nearly as old as this one.

What a garage sale find!!