Follow up to "What are these sticks?"

[voodoopenguin]

If anyone actually cares to know!

A few weeks ago I asked if anyone knew about these:

http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1...msg-896605

Many suggestions given, some more outrageous than others, but nothing definitive. I have now found out what they are, they are cylindrical rules from the 19th or early 20th century.

These were used to rule lines without incurring the danger of dragging the ink down the page - as too often happened with flat rulers. They are made from ebony and were commonly used by draughtsmen and accountants.

Paul

[OWC Jamie]

Thanks - that's actually really cool!

[itsmylittlebrothersbike]

I enjoyed that post so thanks for clarifying!

[OWC Jamie]

Cool. That explains how they could be painted / stained.

Approved for accurate government of measurement ?

[voodoopenguin]

Just to make it clear, they were not used for measuring anything just to help rule straight lines.

Paul

[Filliam H. Muffman]

It makes it easy to draw multiple parallel lines down or across a page, made me think of these folding parallel rulers.

http://www.draftingsteals.com/21236.html

[michaelb]

thanks for coming back and letting us know. Since we failed you (for possibly the very first time), how did you arrive at this answer?

[voodoopenguin]

michaelb wrote:
Since we failed you (for possibly the very first time), how did you arrive at this answer?

I've been a regular at an auction house for a few years and was there today buying old toys (my hobby). I took along the sticks and asked one of the antique experts who immediately showed me how to use them. Once I knew what they were I could look it up on the internet and find out more, I just didn't have the right words to put into Google before.

Failing? Yes, I suppose it was one of the very few times a correct answer wasn't given to a query, certainly the first I can remember. I still love it here though!!

Paul

[Paul F.]

So what are you saying... are you saying they're not clubs? :priate:

Just kidding... ( I guessed some sort of non-whacking-people sports equipment.).

Neat use though.

[Black]

I think they may be police batons?