Gauge

Object Name:

Gauge

Object ID:

1965.031 a

Creator:

Abbot-Downing CompanyManufacturer

Place of Origin:

Concord, NH

Description:

Spoke gauge, used by Abbot-Downing Company, Concord, NH. For tenons of wooden wheel spokes. Wood, steel, and brass. Made from five pieces of wood. Large front piece, 23" long, 1" deep. Second piece of wood, same length, 1.15" deep. Third piece, same length, 1.1" deep. Nailed together. Another piece of wood nailed across one end, 1.2" thick, 1.7" high, 3.4" wide. Eight vertical rectangular slots. Formed by having dados cut into central piece of wood, held between front and back piece. Slots 1.6" long, width of slots different. With main plate at front, the three right-hand slots are 0.63" wide. Remaining ones not quite as wide, but hard to determine true width because of distortions in central piece of wood causing a gap between it and front piece. Visually, left-hand holes seem to be slightly graduated, becoming smaller from left to right for these remaining five holes. Hole depth ~4.6", determined by small piece of wood nailed onto bottom edge of central board. On front, brass plaque, 6" long, 1.45" high, 0.15" thick; raised rim around end and raised letters: "MANUFACTURED BY / ABBOT-DOWNING CO. / CONCORD, N.H. U.S.A." Four steel flathead screws in corners. Raised pads around screw hole at corners. Front surface rough sawn. What is left of back is also rough sawn. Small piece of wood, irregular shaped and possibly broken, nailed to front top left corner.

Material:

Wood
Steel
Brass

Dimensions:

H-6.5 W-3.6 L-24.9 inches Weight-95.85 oz

Credit Line:

Gift of Mrs. Norman Scofield

People:

Abbot, J. Stephens (1804-1871), Downing, Lewis (1792-1873)

Subjects:

Wheels