TOOL: GAUGE, MARKING - MORTICE GAUGE WITH BRASS FITTINGS

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Subcollections

Overview

Implement consisting of two parts: a square wooden fence, stock or head that slides along a wooden stem. Its top and bottom cheeks have slightly convex surfaces. There are brass inserts in the cheeks of the fence. The letters 'J.W.' have been cut into the bottom cheek. The fence is fixed in any required position by means of a metal screw. A brass Vernier screw attached to a brass strip set into the stern allows fractional adjustments in the roughly fixed gauge. The sharply pointed spurs [one missing] at the end of the stem are used for 'scribing'; i.e. marking lines parallel to the face side or edge when placing pieces of wood to size and when marking rebates, joints etc. Mortice gauges have two spurs, one of which is independently adjustable. [The hole in the groove along which the brass scale slides indicates that there was another spur originally which is now missing.] These spurs are used to mark the parallel lines showing the position of a tenon or mortice or similar joint, thus avoiding the need to scribe two lines separately. They are also used to mark close fitting pieces of inlaid wood [as in marquetry].

Historical information

Mortice gauges have two spurs, one of which is independently adjustable.These spurs are used to mark the parallel lines showing the position of a tenon or mortice or similar joint, thus avoiding the need to scribe two lines separately. They are also used to mark close fitting pieces of inlaid wood [as in marquetry].

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-43-1991.181

Item type

Objects

Material

Brass

Keywords

Photographed 2023

Statement of significance

a marking gauge, possibly used by a local resident.

Subiaco Museum