My interest in the dividers bearing Oscar Stoddard's name began when I realized that almost every example I acquired (currently about 20) or saw for sale was different in some way from every other example. The more research I did on Stoddard and his dividers the more I realized the questions regarding these tools were building up far faster than the answers.
Oscar Stoddard
Oscar Stoddard was born in 1834, probably in Rochester NY. Between 1850 and 1860 he moved to Detroit MI where he spent most of his life. In the 1870 census he lists his occupation as painter. An 1884 Detroit City Directory lists Stoddard as "inventor". In 1885 he became Superintendent of the Excelsior Novelty Company. Very little evidence exists as to what this company produced. In 1890 Stoddard is associated with James Dewey and Anson Besimer in the Michigan Lock Company. An 1892 Detroit City Directory has Stoddard listed under the "hardware specialties" category doing business out of two rooms in the Cleland Building in Detroit. Subsequent city directories and censuses have him listed as an inventor. Oscar Stoddard died Dec. 27, 1913 at age 79 in Eloise, Wayne County Michigan.
Stoddard's Divider Patents
Oscar Stoddard received his first patent for an "Improvement in Compasses" on August 27, 1872 (#130,879). This patent features wing dividers with telescoping lower legs locked in place with set screws. The point of one of the legs unscrews and may be reversed to hold a pencil or pen. Manufactured examples bearing this patent date come with pairs of short or long lower legs as well as curved legs allowing the tool to function as inside or outside calipers.
Three versions of the 1872 patent
A second patent for "Calipers and Dividers" was issued to Stoddard on March 31, 1885 (#314,625). The patent drawings show a pair of dividers lacking a wing and having a hinged brace between the upper section of the legs to lock the legs in place. In addition, the end of one of the lower legs pivots so as to remain perpendicular to a surface when the dividers are spread. Manufactured examples bearing this patent do not have the hinged center brace, but rather a typical wing.
1885 patent
On June 30, 1903 Stoddard was issued his third and last patent for "Calipers and Dividers" (732,463). This patent shows a pair of dividers with a body similar to the two previous patents, but with a 180 degree wing that allows the legs to be opened so they form a straight line. The adjustable lower legs are hinged toward the tips allowing the points to be rotated 90 degrees. What Stoddard invented was a pair of dividers that can function as trammel points. The patent drawing also shows a calibrated, curved caliper leg. Stoddard received a five year Canadian patent (21,879) for these dividers on June 6, 1885.
1903 patent
During the 1880's and 1890's Oscar Stoddard was issued seven additional patents. Six of these were for inventions associated with door locks. An 1889 patent was for an easel and sheet music cabinet. It is unclear whether any of these patents ever reached the production stage. The Stoddard Lock Co., S.R. Stoddard, President was in business in the 1880's in New York and Bridgeport, Connecticut. I haven't found any evidence of a relationship between Oscar and "S.R.", but it is an interesting similarity in surname, manufacturing focus and date probably worthy of further research.
Variations in Stoddard's Dividers
To say there are variations in the dividers bearing Stoddard's name is an understatement to say the least. It appears that practically every component of these tools exists in several forms. What follows are just some of the more obvious points of difference:
1. Material: The great majority of these examples were advertised when they were produced as bronze. Currently they are usually described as brass. A nickel plated bronze/brass version was produced.
2. Main Hinge: The main hinge comes in two versions. The first is a basic "ball hinge" using a capped rivet. This hinge is found on the 1872 and 1903 patent drawings. A second version has a flat "rule hinge" held together by a slotted machine screw. This joint is pictured in the 1885 patent drawing and existing examples of all three patents.
3. Means of securing the lower legs or points: The adjustable lower leg sections slide within the hollow body of the upper legs. The lower legs are secured in one of two ways, set screws or chucks. The set screws may be pointing up as in the 1872 patent or to the side as in the 1903 patent The knurled chuck version appears in the 1885 patent drawing. The chuck version may be steel with three surface rings or bronze with four rings.
4. Wing (quadrant): The half circle wing is associated with the 1885 and 1903 patent description where the dividers may function as trammel points. Most examples have a quarter circle wing tipped with an ogee curve.The wing locking set screws may be 10 mm in diameter with a single of double knurl or they may be 12 mm in diameter with a single knurl. The fine adjustment wing nut is typically three mm in diameter, but 2 mm examples occur that appear to be original to the tool.
5. Lower leg length: A major design attraction of Stoddard's dividers is the ability to attach lower leg sections that are straight, either short or long, or long with curved ends so the dividers can act as outside or inside calipers. These lower leg sections come in a variety of lengths: 122 mm,129 mm, 132 mm, 134 mm and 136 mm. It is possible that some of these may be from dividers from other makers that also include the option of switching lower leg sections.
6. Patent and maker's marks: The marks are found on the upper surface of one of the upper legs. They include:
"Patent Applied For" "Imp-t Apl-d For" (Improvement Applied For) "O. Stoddard, Pat'd Aug 27, 1872" (on three lines) "O. Stoddard, Detroit Mich. Pat'd Aug 27, 1872 (on three lines) "Pat'D Aug 27 - 1872 O Stoddard" (on two lines) Small Oval: "O. Stoddard, Pat. Mar 27, 1872" Large Oval: "O. Stoddard, Pat. Mar. 31, 1885" "Stoddard, Pat. June 30, '03" "J. Stevens & Co." .... and no doubt others
It would be helpful to offer a type study linking particular patent and maker's marks with design variations and production dates. Unfortunately, while certain design variations often occur together, there is little consistency. This is both a source of frustration and fascination.
Production
Who manufactured the many variations of Stoddard patent dividers is one of the major mysteries surrounding these tools. It is unlikely that Oscar himself was a manufacturer. None of the ventures with which he was directly involved seem up to the job of manufacturing a precision tool. In most cases, his business was housed in one or two rented rooms. He appears to have been the creative energy behind these tools, but someone else likely made them. One possibility is the Detroit Bevel and Divider Company (later the Detroit Extension Divider Co.). There is no evidence to date that they manufactured Stoddard's dividers while they did manufacture Miller's 1873 and 1874 patent dividers. Miller and Stoddard were likely competing for the same market. The only known maker of Stoddard dividers that I am aware of is the J. Stevens Arms and Tool Co. of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Examples exist of dividers carrying an O. Stoddard mark on one upper leg and J. Stevens on the other. The December 1883 edition of Builders Age (p. 227) carries a picture of a pair of Stoddard dividers with the notation that they had "just been brought out" by Stevens, That still leaves the question of who manufactured these tools prior to 1883.
The Offspring of Stoddard's Dividers
On July 22, 1890 Joshua Stevens was issued patent number 432,578 for an improvement to the wing locking and fine adjusting mechanisms of calipers and dividers. The patent drawing shows a number of striking similarities to Stoddard's dividers. The shoulders above the wing are square and exchangeable lower legs slide into hollow upper legs and are held in place by side-facing lock screws. The selection of exchangeable points parallels those offered with Stoddard dividers: short and long straight points and small and large curved points which allow the tool to function as inside and outside calipers. These dividers were marked No. 62 by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. The set pictured below carries a Feb. 14, 1888 patent date issued to Joshua Stevens. Stevens was issued two patents for calipers and dividers on this date, but both are for spring dividers. The divider set below appears to be a Stevens No. 62.
The L.S. Starrett Co. of Athol Massachusetts produced a number of machinist's dividers with exchangeable points. If one compares Starrett's high-end No. 90, "Improved Bronze Dividers" (below) with Stevens' No. 62, again the similarities are obvious, but Starrett No. 90 does have a number of patented differences from Stoddard's models including Fay's 1887 patented main hinge, a round rather than flat wing and Starrett's 1889 patented fine adjustment for the wing. In 1903 Stevens' tool division was bought out by Starrett. Keep in mind that Stevens had manufactured Stoddard's 1872 design dividers. One can argue that Stevens' No. 62 and Starrett's No. 90 dividers share many of the characteristics of Stoddard's 1872 model.
Stevens No. 62
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| Starrett No. 90 |
Stoddard's Place in the History of Dividers
Evidence indicates that Oscar Stoddard's 1872 patent for dividers was possibly the first to be manufactured in the U.S. with two exchangeable lower legs (points), allowing one tool to function as dividers, marking compasses or inside and outside calipers. Hugh Stewart received a patent for dividers with replaceable points on April 21,1868 (# 77,123), but there is no evidence these were ever manufactured. Albert Cook's Dec. 12, 1871 patent (# 121,850) for dividers was produced by Copeland and Chamberlain of Worcester, Massachusetts. These dividers allow one leg to be adjusted, but there is no option for exchanging both of the points.
Oscar Stoddard's patented dividers were sold over a period of thirty years from 1872 to 1903 or later. The 1872 model is seen far more often than the 1885 or 1903 models. Their quality and functionality clearly made them as popular with machinists and other craftsmen in their day as they are with tool collectors today.
I would appreciate hearing from anyone with corrections or comments regarding the saga of Mr. Stoddard, his dividers or their evolutionary descendants.
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| Cook's 1871 Patent |
