Improvements in Stone-workers' Gauge Squares.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stone-workers' Gauge Squares.
I, JOHN HENRY GORMAN, of East Greenwich, in the County of Kent and State
of Rhode Island, United States of America, Mason, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to that class of instruments used by stonecutters in laying
out the designs for their work and in testing the same for correctness as it
progresses and when it is finished.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1, represents the instrument applied to a stone, which is shown in
Bection.
Figure 2 shows another mode of application.
Figure 3, shows an application of the instrument as a depth gauge.
Figure 4, represents its application for holding a pattern to cut a moulding on a
stone.
Figure 5, is a top view of its use in working on the upper surface of a stone
already levelled off.
Figure 6, is an edge view of the instrument, with the angle plates, as
in Figure 5.
Figure 7, shows the mode of using the instrument on a bevelled "die-block.”
Figure 8, shows a flat side of a gauge bar, and
Figure 9 represents the brace bar.
seen
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views of
the drawing.
The object of this invention is to produce a tool for stonecutter's use, to serve in
all the various manipulations wherein he now uses a square held against a straight
edge, and a rule held against the square, to mark out or test his work, so that he
can avoid the uncertainty of the result that depends so much, in the ordinary way
on his success in holding the various tools mentioned, in proper relations to each
other.
The instrument consists in the combination of a steel square A, having
longitudinal slots a, a, made in the middle of each limb, nearly the whole length,
and a flat gauge bar b, also slotted, at a¹, in like manner as the square, and having
one end cut off to a bevel that will bring the point e, to one side of the bar; a flat
thin brace bar c, having short longitudinal slots near each end, and two plates g, g,
bent at right angles, and having short slots in one side of the bend. These parts
are held together in their various positions, by means of short bolts r, having
preferably, thin, flat heads on one end, and a round, thin nut », slotted across to
receive a screw driver made with a notch in its end, to receive the end of the bolt
when the uut is being screwed down tight. The reason for preferring this kind of
a nut to a thumb screw, and also the thin head, is that the instrument may lie down
closer to the stone work, when it is applied in some ways.
A number of the gauge
bars of different lengths, are intended to be used as different kinds of work may
require, and also of the brace bars c.
In Figure 1, the instrument is arranged and applied to gauge two opposite bevels
cut in the top surface of a stone block S, the vertical leg of the square A, being held
close to the finished side of the block, the two brace bars c, c, being so arranged that
they will hold the gauge bars b, b, rigidly, as set. The brace bar c, is one of the most
important features of the combination, for without that the gauge bar could not be
depended upon, as it is almost impossible to hold it against being moved by

page_text: accidental contact with the stone, by means of one bolt through it where it crosses
the square, however tightly that bolt may be screwed up. By means of the brace
bar, a finer adjustment of the gauge bar can be made, without the liability of
alteration in the process of tightening the nuts.
Figure 2, shows the mode of applying the instrument in gauging a single bevel
with an offset that would prevent the use of a plain bevel.
In Figure 3, the arrangement and operation when used as a depth gauge is shown,
also the manner in which the gauge bars b, b, may be disposed of so as to be out of
the way when not needed, by securing them lengthwise of one of the legs of the
square.
Figure 4, shows how a pattern of a moulding t, is held to test the accuracy of the
work as it progresses.
Figure 5, shows the application of the instrument to the upper surface of a block
already squared up for lettering, or other surface work. The angle plates g,
attached to the square to hold it on the edge of the stone, being slotted, the square
can be set so that the limb on the stone, will be at any angle to the side of the stone,
when desired.
Figure 7, represents the mode of using the instrument in squaring the top of a
"bevelled die-block," which is usually first cut on its sides to the desired bevel, then
the top and bottom are squared by means of a complex system of centre lines, so as
to be parallel with each other. With this instrument, the operation is quickly and
accurately done, by finding the difference between the breadth of the top and
bottom, and adjusting the point of the gauge bar at one-half the difference from the
vertical leg of the square and the top and bottom can be levelled off as one would
square off the top of a rectangular block.
square and
For convenience in slotting and measuring, the
graduated in the same manner as steel squares are usually divided.
gauge bars are
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A square, slotted substantially as described, in combination with a slotted
gauge bar having one bevelled end, and a brace bar slotted near its ends, substantially
as described.
2. A square, slotted substantially as described, in combination with the slotted
gauge bar having one bevelled end, a slotted brace bar, and a pattern for moulding,
substantially as specified.
3. A combination tool for stone workers' use, consisting of a square having both
legs slotted and graduated, one or more gauge bars also slotted and graduated, one
or more brace bars slotted near their ends, two rectangular bent plates with slots,
and bolts suitable for holding the members of the combination together, substantially
as described.
201 1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.