Being stored in wood tool chests, most my precision tools survived the 2020 shop fire,, with some minor clean up. However my Mitutoyo 12" & 18" dial calipers were in a metal cabinet and were totaled. Since it wasn't inventoried. I didn't replace them, and occasionally need to check something over 8". A 12" model would suffice most my needs. And purchase this Mitutoyo 12" Digimatic Absolute model.
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The Absolute version has some nice features. A slight movement of the carriage brings the caliper to life. Then there's no need to re-zero it out. Then goes to sleep in its' own. The digital readout is far more readable, bolder and nearly twice as tall numbers. While advertised to last five years. Another feature that I'm like is it reads three-place while the fourth is smaller. I so often put tape over the four-digit on on machine readouts.. An old timer once told me that tenth's are for boy scouts..
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I must have a dozen calipers in my collection. All are 6" long. One is 8" and my newest addition is 12". They consist of digital, dial, and the first generation caliper being vernier... Most are Mitutoyo, two Starrett, one Brown & Sharp. Side note: Mitutoyo was a pioneer in the development of digital calipers
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Pictures of the 6" Brown & Sharp Digit-Cal calipers. They were a shop gift from years ago. They're Very cumbersome compared to Mitutoyo's. Plus it takes four larger size batteries compared to the single smaller use in the Mitutoyo's. And have a shorter battery life. Hence they are seldom used.
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That's a bit sad.
Those easy reads are such a blessing for old eyes. I love my old vernier gear, but those tiny numbers and lines are just murder without magnification!
I am all too familiar trying to read small numbers. That comes with age. I remember my father saying that 45 is the age of declining vision. And instilled in me, always wear eyes protection. Besides wearing safety glasses, I also work with an Optivisor like my father. In fact I have six of them in my garage shop, home, and motorhome.
I really appreciate the size difference of my new calipers. Besides being larger numbers, they are much bolder. And being dyslexic, having the fourth digit smaller sure makes it easier to read correctly. Here's the new vrs old caliper set to the same number...
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WOW, talk about a difference in size!
Once again, my faulty gene got the best of me.. I just acquired this antique Brown & Sharp 26" vernier caliper. Complete with the original genuine mahogany wood case. It's a newer model with recessed satin chrome scales that makes for easier reading and less vulnerable to wear from the sliding jaw. In mint condition showing little wear.
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You'll get nothing but admiration from me! I have a 36" version of this I am working on as a project! Unfortunately the only piece preventing me from moving forward is the gib for the sliding jaw. I think if I can ever put my hands on one I will be able to piece together a decent function and accurate tool.
Personally I love the old B&S vernier tools and have bought a number. What's not to love? The quality speaks for itself. Being old technology most folks have no clue or interest in learning how to use them. The accuracy is equal to anything made today with no batteries to die, and nothing to recalibrate. Prices are generally lower due to lack of popularity with younger guys and fewer older guys buying.
The only down side is all those darn little numbers and lines. I have added a number of magnification devices for that which you already know about like the Stebar, one for the height gage, and one very rare one that will attach to the thimble of a mic. I also added several others, one from Lufkin, and one I think from B&S. Plan to buy the one everyone has that you wear on your head as well.
Yes, I love your new addition and applaud your purchase! Count me envious, it's a jewel!
Finding a replacement sliding jaw gib for a old Brown & Sharpe caliper is difficult. Instrument repair shops may have some NOS on hand. Like Long Island Indicator. https://longislandindicator.com/ A generic one may be found and adapted to fit.
A resent ebay listing for a Starrett caliper jib...
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Vernier caliper my be old school. Non the less they are accurate to .001". Like mentioned there is no need to replace batteries or zero the caliper with each use. It takes a little more effort to read compared to the decimal reading on a modern digital caliper. Hence most younger machinists don't consider purchasing any vernier scaled instruments. And being less desired, they can be found at a fraction of the cost. Not withstanding an old timer, like myself, it comes second nature to read.