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Antique Stanley Line Level

T

Tellurian

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A friend of mine that it turns out has a similar interest in old hand tools as me has acquired a nice old Stanley Line Level.
1766481277000.png
I think a previous owner has done some sprucing up with some Hammerite that has resulted in the numbering becoming indistinct but some searching led me to this: https://avaluer.net/explore/2674113...ey_line_level__patent_date__june_28_1898___vg
I tried to find a patent for this date for this sort of tool without any luck. A couple of AIs insited that the date is actually 23rd June 1896, not 28th and that the patent is for a way of marking the glass but I'm not convinced. Other images found seem to show that it is the 28th.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone knows any more about this item. Especially what the bolt was for.

Many thanks.

Edited to say:
Ah ha!, It wasn't a line level! It was clamped onto something such as a metal ruler and you have an instant level.
Here's another picture that shows the clamp better:
1766482214174.png
 
Last edited:
Cool! I don't know much about the huge range of old Stanley tools, but I do have a few places to look things up...

My usual first port of call for patents on American tools is the excellent DATAMP website - it's a searchable database, complied by collectors, of most of the US tool and machine patents, plus notes and photos.

DATAMP - Directory of American Tool and Machinery Patents

Information on antique tool and woodworking machine patents, allowing collectors of these tools to easily find information about the history of tools and trades.
datamp.org

I tried searching for June 28 1898, but got the error message that it wasn't a Thursday - apparently all patents were issued on Thursdays. I tried browsing through the classified list of patents for levels but couldn't find yours.

Then I tried Jun. 23, 1896 as the patent date, and found that it was indeed correct. You'll need to enter it in the search box to see a list of all of them but here are the two in question:

US Patent: 562,678 - Machine for Graduating Glasses or Tubes

US patent 562,678 Machine for Graduating Glasses or Tubes was issued to Justus A. Traut of New Britain, CT and Christian Bodmer of New Britain, CT. It was granted on 06/23/1896. Machinery used by Stanley Rule & Level Co. to mark the spirit levels using a rapidly spinning disk of cast iron to...
datamp.org

US Patent: 562,679 - Method of Marking Level Glasses or Analogous Articles

US patent 562,679 Method of Marking Level Glasses or Analogous Articles was issued to Justus A. Traut of New Britain, CT and Christian Bodmer of New Britain, CT. It was granted on 06/23/1896. Cast iron rotating at a high velocity is used to mark the lines on a level. This method avoided...
datamp.org


Then, turning to the big old guide book to Stanley tools by John Walter, I found this entry:

Screenshot 2025-12-23 095826.png

which looks like your one, presumably a number 40. No mention of the patent though. However, there's a separate listing of patents at the end of the book which includes this, with the useful note that the date is on many different levels:

Screenshot 2025-12-23 100056.png

So, it looks like a number 40, 23 June 1896 is what the numbers should read, and the patents referred to are indeed for how the tubes were made, rather than any feature of the finished level. Here it is, in a catalogue from 1900:

BookReaderImages.php


archive.org

Stanley Rule and Level Company : Catalogue No. 26 : Stanley Rule & Level Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

88 p., illus., 18.4 cm, trade catalog
archive.org


I hope this helps!
 
Last edited:
AndyT said:
Cool! I don't know much about the huge range of old Stanley tools, but I do have a few places to look things up...

My usual first port of call for patents on American tools is the excellent DATAMP website - it's a searchable database, complied by collectors, of most of the US tool and machine patents, plus notes and photos.

DATAMP - Directory of American Tool and Machinery Patents

Information on antique tool and woodworking machine patents, allowing collectors of these tools to easily find information about the history of tools and trades.
datamp.org

I tried searching for June 28 1898, but got the error message that it wasn't a Thursday - apparently all patents were issued on Thursdays. I tried browsing through the classified list of patents for levels but couldn't find yours.

Then I tried Jun. 23, 1896 as the patent date, and found that it was indeed correct. You'll need to enter it in the search box to see a list of all of them but here are the two in question:

US Patent: 562,678 - Machine for Graduating Glasses or Tubes

US patent 562,678 Machine for Graduating Glasses or Tubes was issued to Justus A. Traut of New Britain, CT and Christian Bodmer of New Britain, CT. It was granted on 06/23/1896. Machinery used by Stanley Rule & Level Co. to mark the spirit levels using a rapidly spinning disk of cast iron to...
datamp.org

US Patent: 562,679 - Method of Marking Level Glasses or Analogous Articles

US patent 562,679 Method of Marking Level Glasses or Analogous Articles was issued to Justus A. Traut of New Britain, CT and Christian Bodmer of New Britain, CT. It was granted on 06/23/1896. Cast iron rotating at a high velocity is used to mark the lines on a level. This method avoided...
datamp.org


Then, turning to the big old guide book to Stanley tools by John Walter, I found this entry:

View attachment 37813

which looks like your one, presumably a number 40. No mention of the patent though. However, there's a separate listing of patents at the end of the book which includes this, with the useful note that the date is on many different levels:

View attachment 37814

So, it looks like a number 40, 23 June 1896 is what the numbers should read, and the patents referred to are indeed for how the tubes were made, rather than any feature of the finished level. Here it is, in a catalogue from 1900:

BookReaderImages.php


archive.org

Stanley Rule and Level Company : Catalogue No. 26 : Stanley Rule & Level Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

88 p., illus., 18.4 cm, trade catalog
archive.org


I hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Many thanks Andy. That is really good. It is also great to get the confirmation about the patents. That DATAMP website looks like it needs a serious look at.
I shall pass this on to my friend. I have told her she should join here as there are many like-minded souls so she won't need to collect in silence any more.
 
As you say @Tellurian not a line level, I’ve a couple of line levels the oldest being a Rabone


20251223_171242.jpeg

20251223_171221.jpeg


Cast aluminium body probably dating from the 1950’s, a retired site forman gave it me many years ago, it was in regular use until I bought a laser level.
 
I have been eyeing a DeWalt one also, I have a cheaper version which I don't like but it works.
This year I will upgrade.
 
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