In an earlier post dealing with the dividers of Oscar Stoddard, I mentioned that practically every example I have appears different in construction or marking from every other example. I recently acquired an example of Stoddard's March 31,1885 patent (right-hand pair above). In this patent the leg points pivot allowing them to remain perpendicular to the surface being measured. This is a fairly uncommon tool compared to Stoddard's 1872 patent, which is the one that usually shows up for sale.
These dividers have a number of issues including a missing fine adjustment spring, a replaced wing lock thumb screw as well as replaced locking thumb screws for the pivoting lower legs. Once again, the new example shows a number of differences from the more typical example (left in photo above).
"Old" "New"
The upper, square portion of the legs in the new pair is approximately 1/2" longer than in the old pair.The wing is 90 degrees as opposed to 180 degrees in the old example.
The markings on the upper legs also differ. The older pair logo above is a typical three line oval found in many Stoddard dividers marked "O. STODDARD, PATD MAR 31 1885, DETROIT MICH." The marking on the lower pair is faint, but the oval has two lines with the patent date above and O. Stoddard below, with a double diamond pattern in the center. None of my other Stoddard dividers have a similar marking.
The middle section of the legs on the old model above have locking thumb screws that allow the lower legs to be adjusted or removed. In the new model the two leg sections are permamently locked in place. In addition, the lower legs in the old example are steel while they are bronze/brass in the new example.
So, the questions regarding the history of Oscar Stoddard's patented dividers continue to add up. Why so many variations? Who manufactured the tools for Oscar (at a later time they were manufactured by J. Stevens A&T)?
