Stanley level

[john k]

Hi, Just going through pics,  realized I've had this nice Stanley no.36 cast iron level for months now.  The vials are in nickel plated tubes.   Any idea why, what special use this was created for?   Have the feeling it wasn't cheap back in its day.  Comments?

[WiebeLC]

My Stanley book calls it a machinist's level. In 1934 a 6 inch model would have cost $1.80, and a 9 inch model would have cost $2.20.

[mikeswrenches]

The No. 36 was made for quite a long time in several different  sizes.  I think the ones I have are 18 in.  On a lot of these there was a vial cover that was rotated over top of the level glass to protect it from being broken.  I can't tell from the picture if yours has that or not.  These are nice tough levels...a little heavy though.  Some of them also have a groove on the bottom for use on pipe or other round objects.

Mike

[john k]

Will have to check it for those features, thanks guys.

[scottg]

Stanley made these levels in 3 grades, sizes from 6" to 24", for 50 years or more.
 Combination general wood and metalworking was the product target market.
 Very accurate for woodworking and marginally accurate enough for metalworking. 

 Yours is a middle grade.
 Stanley's cheapest and by far the most common were open end levels. The last 3" of metal at the top and bottom unsupported. These had the shortest and cheapest vials. You can't give these away now.
 
  Yours is the I-beam model. The ends are closed, but only partly. They had longer better vials.

The top line has fully boxed ends and the long vials have rotating Eclipse covers that spin around and cover the vial completely for travel.

  None of them have much of any collector following. I like them anyway, myself. I believe the day will come when are collected hotly.
  I am looking for a 24" box end top grade, in fine condition, now, before the collector hordes drive the price up. I'd like to have a 6" too. I have 9 and 18".
  yours Scott
   

[Bill Houghton]

The vials are, in theory, adjustable, I believe.  However, that depends on the screws that hold them in being free enough to turn, an infrequent occurrence on levels that have been hanging around for years and years.