Draw Gauges: (C.S. Osborne & Co.)
Use:
The draw gauge is used to cut leather belts or strips of varying width out of a hide.
Older draw gauges (pre 1870's) will tend to have hand engraved rule marks on the slides. Many of these have dots punched above some of the rule marks to give a cleaner appearance. Newer draw gauges appear to have more uniform machined or stamped rule marks.
Seven C.S. Osborne draw gauge styles: (1911 C.S. Osborne catalogue)
- No. 50, Brass Draw Gauges, Usual
- No. 51, Brass Draw Gauges, Improved (Optional Guard)
- No. 051-1/2, Patent Hollow Handle Draw Gauges, Usual
- No. 51-1/2, Patent Hollow Handle Draw Gauges, Improved (Optional Nickel Plating)
- No. 52, Latta's Draw Gauge
- U.S. Patent No. 00237554, Dated February 8, 1881, "Draw-Gage", Emmit G. Latta, of Friendship, New York, Assignor to Henry F. Osborne of Newark, New Jersey.
- The handle twists to lock the slide into place.
- Was manufactured by C.S. Osborne & Co. after the H.F. Osborne tool company was bought in 1905.
- No. 052-1/2, Draw Gauges, Iron Frame, Usual
- No. 52-1/2, Draw Gauges, Iron Frame, Improved
The nomenclature used to define the different styles of draw gauges above, is from the 1911 C.S. Osborne catalogue listed on the "References" page. Most of the C.S. Osborne & Co. gauges were avalible as standard with a 4" arm or "slide". However, 5", 6" 7" and 8" long slides were optional. A"Usual" style does not have a finger trigger, an "Improved" has a finger trigger.
A late 1880's vintage C.S. Osborne catalogue illustrates only the No. 51, 51 1/2 and 52 1/2 models. It should be noted that part of the page that the draw gauges were on (page 11), was missing.
Several C.S. Osborne draw gauge markings: (oldest to newest)
No. 51, C.S. Osborne & Co.
- No. 51, Brass Draw Gauge, Improved (with out optional Guard), with a 4" Slide.
- Appears to be an older C.S. Osborne & Co. version. The trigger appears to be added verses integral to the brass casting as below.
- Note the 99's stamped on both the handle and the slide.
- No. 51, Brass Draw Gauge, Improved (with out optional Guard), with a 4" Slide. Complete other than blade.
- Pictorially looks like the illustration in the 1911 C.S. Osborne & Co. catalogue reprint.
No. 51-1/2, C.S. Osborne & Co.
No. 51-1/2, No. 51-1/2, Patent Hollow Handle Draw Gauges, Improved, complete.
No. 52, C.S. Osborne & Co.
No. 52, Latta's Draw Gauge, with a 6" Slide. Complete other than blade
No. 52-1/2, C.S. Osborne & Co.
No. 52-1/2, Draw Gauge, Iron Frame, Improved, with a 4" Slide. Complete
No. 52-1/2, Draw Gauge, Iron Frame, Improved, with an 8" Slide.
