Sargent and Co NY wood level

[peiporter]

Hi everyone

I am new to tool collecting....and I hope you can help.

I found an old Sargent and Co NY wood level out in my late grandfather's workshop. IT has a brass plate on the top with words Sargent and Co NY on it.  Both of the bubbles are still intact.  But there seems to be two plugs missing from there the bubble was originally inserted.  would these have been brass or wooden or some other material?  If they were brass..any ideas where I might get replacements?  the plugs are about the same size as a  Canadian dime.  Any information wold be appreciated.

thx
peiporter

[Bill Houghton]

Most of the levels using this design that I've seen used metal plugs, brass being common if the other metal on the level was brass.  As to where to get them - Sargent's out of business.  If you want to make them, your hardware store or a hobby shop will have brass sheet (get something fairly thick, like 1/8").  You then need to figure out what diameter the plug needs to be, lay out your circle, and cut it out (jeweler's saw for hand work or a stationary jig or scroll saw* for powered work).  Then glue it in, probably with Goop or a similar flexible adhesive.

*Nowadays, a lot of people use the term "jig saw" to mean a hand held tool; but it originally referred to something like this:

[scottg]

Yup, I know the ones

 Exactly what Bill said.

Or start scrounging over heaven and earth and come up with another Sargent level you can rob them off of. Broken levels are usually pretty easy to get except.......... yours --would be-- a Sargent marked level. If it was a Disston or Stanley it would be a walk in the part to get parts.  Sargent marked levels are not the most common brand though. It should be reasonable to find one in the end.
 
Or hire someone to make them for you. Custom job.
  yours Scott