If you’ve read “Calvin Cobb: Radio Woodworker!” by Roy Underhill perhaps you’ve noticed the numbered “chapter spots” – the little images at the beginning of each chapter.
(If you haven’t yet read it, well, you should! It’s variously funny, poignant, thought-provoking and, of course, quintessentially Underhill-ian.)
Here’s the back story on those chapter spots: Christopher Schwarz and I were in Pittsboro, N.C., at The Woodwright’s School when Roy started hunting down vintage things with numbers on them, camera in hand. I tried to keep up with him, jotting down everything at which he pointed the lens. But who can keep up with Roy?! Not me.
Saturday, though, I got a list from Roy of all the items – so we thought we’d have a fun little contest with them.
In the comments, in order from 1-38, post your best guesses as to what each item is in the chapter spots (pictured in order below). The contest runs through 11:59 p.m., March 28 (this Saturday). That way, I have the weekend to go through them.
Whomever gets the most correct (or is the first to get them all correct) wins an autographed copy of “Calvin Cobb: Radio Woodworker!”, a Lost Art Press T-shirt (your choice of available offerings and sizes) and an autographed Roubo bookstand from Roy.
The person with the second most correct wins an autographed copy of “Calvin Cobb: Radio Woodworker!” and a Lost Art Press T-shirt.
Third prize is your choice of an autographed book or a Lost Art Press T-shirt.
And if there’s a tie for win, place or show, I can probably shake another set of applicable prizes out of the powers that be.
— Megan Fitzpatrick
Is it cheating to find out whether the same object was used for multiple numbers?
Well I guess it’s not cheating if you can get someone to tell you…but only Roy and I know for sure, and we’re not talking 🙂
Wow – this is tough!
1: Camera dial
2: Punch card
3: Book spine
4: Radio or clock name brand/model #
5: Camera knob
6: No. 6 Jointing plane
7: Radio volume knob
8: Rotary phone dial
9: Graduation on a machine knob (lathe, mill or the like)
10: Vending machine display
11: Display of some sort
12: Camera knob
13: Boxwood and brass folding rule/calliper (Stanley No. 13)
14: Camera dial
15: Vending machine button
16: Cash register display
17: Auger
18: Stanley sliding bevel (Stanley No. 18)
19: Tape measure
20: Amateur radio dial
21: Machine display
22: Vending machine button
23: Adding machine buttons
24: Owner added numbers (using the punches from #38)
25: Label
26: Plate for correct setting to cut threads on a lathe (the numbers are the threads per inch)
27: Folding rule
28: Camera dial
29: Transitional fore plane
30: Protractor
31: Tape measure
32: Label on a box
33: Plaque on a cash register
34: Moulding plane blades
35: Transitional smooth plane
36: Adding machine button
37: Transitional jenny plane
38: Numbered punches
You might want to disable comments and have them send emails. Based on the number of people that usually respond, while someone might not have all the right answers, all the right answers will be spread among the comments. Those, like me, who will wait until the last minute will cull through the answers looking for the correct ones. You could end up with a lot of people having all the correct answers. Then you’re in a pickle. Something to think about before the postings get out of hand.
1 camera
2 code to unlock woodwirking secret for perfect dovetails.
3 audels carpenter builder guide #3 of 4 book set great read.
4 clock
5 Camera film advance
6 fore bench plane
7 clock
8 rotory phone dialer
9 Ruler
10 price tag from stanley tools
11 time machine knob “top secret”
12 Camera apature setting
13 Ruler possible lufkien
14 ?
15 selector button for music box
16 Camera film window number
17 Moulding plane blade
18 plane fence cast
19 Ruler
20 degree selector for miter saw
21 grandpas missing lotto ticket
22 selector button for juke box
23 cash register key
24 dividers
25 quater slot for pay phone or that juke or is it jute box?
26 steel square
27 ruler
28 camera apature selector for lens
29 plane blade for half wood half metal plane
30 Degrees selector for miter saw like my grandpas miller falls I see the saw teeth they need sharpning
31 ruler with brass ends
32 year I would like to visit 1832 that is
33 stamp book or cost to order audel book set or a plan set from stanley tools.
34 Blades for moulding plane
35 level from Stanley
36 Cash register button
37 plane blade
38 number stamp set for marking tools or the book that I hope to win Crossing fingers.
Some left me scratching my head, but it was a fun exercise. Here are my guesses:
1. Film camera
2. Punch card
3. Audel’s carpenters and builders guide vol. 3
4. Film camera
5. Film camera
6. Stanley No. 6
7. Potentiometer dial (oscilloscope?)
8. Rotary telephone
9. Folding steel rule
10. Cash register
11. Film camera
12. Film camera
13. Stanley No. 13 boxwood calliper rule
14. Film camera
15. Adding machine
16. Camera exposure counter
17. Auger brace bit
18. Stanley no. 18 bevel gauge
19. Folding rule
20. Combination safe
21. ?
22. Adding machine
23. Adding machine
24. Auger brace bit
25. Old vending machine
26. Steel framing square
27. Folding rule
28. Film camera
29. Stanley no 29 fire plane
30. Mitre saw or mitre box
31. Folding rule
32. Die-cast metal racing car #32
33. Stamp dispensing machine
34. Cutters from a Stanley No. 45 or 55
35. Stanley No. 35 smooth plane
36. Adding machine
37. Stanley No.37 wood bottom transitional plane
38. Number punches
Throwing my guesses in the mix
1: Camera dial
2: Punch card
3: Audels Carpenters and Builders Guide Book spine
4: Radio model number
5: Camera exposure count knob (how many exposures on the roll of film)
6: No. 6 Jointing plane
7: Radio volume knob
8: Rotary phone dial
9: metal ruler
10: scale
11: no clue!
12: Camera knob
13: folding rule
14: Camera dial
15: jukebox
16: Cash register display
17: Auger bit
18: Stanley sliding bevel
19: wooden rule with trammel point??
20: safe dial
21: juke box display
22: juke box
23: Adding machine
24: id numbers, bar stock
25: press
26: lathe thread setting
27: Folding rule
28: aperature ring
29: no. 29 transitonal plane
30: miter gauge on hand miter saw
31: wooden rule with trammel point??
32: decals on something metal
33: Plaque on a cash register
34: Moulding plane blades
35: no.35 transitional plane (Stanely)
36: Adding machine
37: no 37 transitional plane (Stanley)
38: Number punches
Fun idea – are you looking for the brand and model of the item or just that it is the dial of a widget ?
If you think you know the brand and model…the more specificity the better.
And extra points for saying that Megan looks like the woman on the cover of the book….
Why would you tell people to lie?
how are you going to judge if we list the entries – I could easily copy someone else’s list and therefore not have to even try!
Well I’m trusting you won’t do that. This is for fun, people! Where’s the fun in cheating?!
1. Film camera dial
2, IBM punch card Holerith code
3. Audel builders series book No 3
4, Short wave radio dial 4 Mhz showing
5, Film advance button on camera, shows remaining shots
6. Stanley No 6 Fore plane
7. Selector switch
8. Rotary dial on old phone
9. Folding rule, metal
10. Pay Weigh scale, 10Cents
11. Aperture setting on camera
12. Distance setting ring on camera lens
13. Stanley No 13 carpenter caliper rule
14. Dial on camera
15. Elevator button
16. lighted floor number indicator for elevator
17. Auger bit brace no 17 (1-1/16 in)
18. Stanley No 18 sliding bevel
19. Folding ruler
20. Vernier dial on radio
21. Selector button for adding machine
22. Elevator button
23. Button on adding machine (such as Daniels)
24. Lateral lever on Stanley plane, showing part of patent 7-24-88 two piece construction (round disk)
25. 25Cents coin slot on pay phone
26.Scale on framing square
27. Metal ruler
28. Aperture dial ring on camera
29. Stanley transitional No29 Foreplane, toe stamp
30. Degrees selector on miter box
31. Folding ruler
32. # transfer decals on a seat
34. Sneek plow cutter, from a set of 8
35. Stanley transitional No35 Smooth plane, toe stamp
36. Button
37.Stanley transitional No 37 Jenny plane, toe stamp
38. Numbers punches
Correction. Megan looks like a Superwoman. But unless I’m sorely mistaken, her use of the verb form, “gets” has been used in the transitive voice…not the passive….which would dictate the use of “Whoever”, rather than “Whomever”, would it not?
Eh — you may be right. I’ll have to pull out my grammar book now. Sigh.
Considering the vein of the contest, will there be Roy signed Roubo bookstand off cuts as a consolation prize for the runners up?
1. Robot 1937 exposure counting knob
2. Punch card (IBM)
3. Audels carpenter and builders guide vol.3 of 4
4. 4.0hz HAM radio
5. Shutter release timer on Robot 1937 camera
6. No.6 try plane from stanly
7. Kitchen timer
8. Rotary dial phone
9. 72″ folding ruler
10. Scale used in rest stops that you have to pay for
11. Radio dial
12. Focus ring on robot camera
13. Stanly no.13 folding rule
14. Robot 1937 exposure counting knob now pointing to exposure 14
15. Juke box button
16. Exposure count window
17.auger bit
18. No.18 but locking bevel gage
19. Rabone folding rule
20. Safe lock
21. Lock dial wheel
22. Juke box
23. Cash register
24. Lever arm on stanly plane
25. Quarter slot for stamp vending machine
26. Thread count for barns screw cutting lathe
27. 72″ folding rule
28. Aperture dial for robot camera
29. Toe stamp on stanly transitional jointer
30. Miter box set to 30deg
31. Rabone folding rule
32. Match box car
33. Stamp vending machine
34. Plow plane irons
35. Stanly transitional two stamp for 35 smooth plane
36. Typewriter key.
37. No 37 stanly transitional try plane
38. Number stamps
I hope I win!
1. Not a camera, but I don’t know what it is
2. old computer punch card.
3. Audel’s Builders’ Guide, vol 3
4. Band select knob on old Ham radio
5. Film advance knob on camera
6. No. 6 plane
7. Adjustment knob and dial from unidentified electrical apparatus
8 #8 finger hole on old phone dial.
9. Metal ruler from something that has an oil joint.
10. Pay scale that charges 10 cents/weighing
11. Don’t know but I’m sure all previous guesses are wrong.
12. focus setting knob on camera.
13. wooden ruler
14. Mystery knob. What goes from 1, 14, 3 . . .?
15. Juke box button (Lighted boxes to right display the choices.)
16. I’ll go with elevator floor indicator, but I think el;evators from the age of Calvin Cobb used a needle moving across a dial.
17. Bit for a brace.
18. Looks like it is cast iron widget with a number 18 on it. Previous guesses are for things that are usually engraved on a polished surface.
19. Folding ruler (same as #31.)
20. Safe combination dial.
21. Mystery. Looks like a rotating dial that would be behind a window where one number in turn would show.
22. Looks like 15, but without lighted boxes. I was thinking elevator button, but where would Roy get an old elevator? So I’ll go with Juke box again. Different model.
23. Adding machine. Addihng machine buttons are arranged in a rectangle like number pads on phones, but upside down. Cash register buttons are columns of 10 buttons 0 – 9. These are rows.
24.It tapers to the right so I’ll go with one leg of a 2′ compass or dividers.
25. coin slot on vending machine for quarters.
26. looks cast or at least rough. Settings for precision machinery are engraved on a polished surface. The ordering of the numbers is weird.
27. folding ruler from different mfg than the other 2.
28. f-stop (aperture) dial on a camera.
29. No 29 ransitional plane.
30.manual mitre saw angle indicator.
31. folding ruler (same as #19).
32. Looks like 3 was repainted at least once and is still flaking off. Painted on concrete? I’ll guess house number on cide of concrete building.
33. metal sign on stamp vending machine.
34. I have no idea, but previous guesses on molding planes sound plausible. (Official guess is I don’t know.)
35. Stanley #35 transitional plane.
36. old typewriter where the key would type a 6 if pressed and a 3 if Shift + key were pressed.
37.Stanley number 37 plane
38. numeric punches. Hit with mallet to emboss digit in wood.
1. Roulette wheel
2. Numerical Punch Card
3. Audels Carpenter and Builders Guide 3
4. Vintage Radio Tuning Dial (Special B-Band)
5. Film camera counter dial
6. No. 6 Jointing plane
7. Radio volume dial
8. Telephone rotary dial
9. Vintage folding steel ruler
10. Toledo scale with 10 cent label
11. Aperture F Stop guide on camera
12. Distance setting on camera lens
13. Stanley No. 13 Carpenter’s Caliper Rule (circa 1854-1933)
14. Roulette wheel
15. Selector on a Jukebox
16. Camera frame counter
17. Auger brace bit No. 17
18. Stanley sliding bevel No. 18
19. Folding ruler
20. Vernier dial
21. Combo lock tumbler wheel
22. Vending machine button
23. Adding machine buttons
24. Bar clamp (24 inch)
25. Pay phone 25 cents coin slot
26. Lathe thread & feed chart
27. Folding rule
28. Camera aperture F Stops dial (2,8 German)
29. Stanley No. 29 fire plane
30. Miter saw angle index
31. Folding rule
32. Decal for 32 deuce coupe model race car
33. Stamp vending machine
34. Plow plane irons
35. Transitional No. 35 smooth plane
36. Typewriter numerical key for laboratory typing
37. Stanley No. 37 transitional plane
38. Number punches
If you never try you’ll never know. Daniel
This was a great deal of fun!
1 “Oh, it’s a RoBot!” says Anne. “May I see it?” Manual film counter on an Otto Berning and Co Schwelm-Weste ‘RoBot 1’ 4 fps camera c1934
2 IBM 80 hollerith punch card stock used on the IBM 601 tabulator
3 Leather bound Audel’s carpenters and builder’s guide Vol. 3, 1937 Edition no doubt
4 Amateur Ham Radio possible Hallicrafters or Heath
5 Exposure timer on Otto Berning and Co Schwelm-Weste ‘RoBot 1’ camera c1934
6 No. 6 Stanley Fore plane – possible TYPE 7, PAT.7-24-88
7 Egg timer dial ?
8 dial from a rotary pay phone
9 72″ Zig Zag steel ruler or 2 foot folding steel ruler
10 price to be weighed on Set of Toledo Scales
11 looks like a rangefinder light meter such as a combi-meter could also be an aperture dial
12 Depth of Field dial on an Otto Berning and Co Schwelm-Weste ‘RoBot 1’ camera c1934
13 Stanley No. 13 Boxwood Brass Ruler with Caliper
14 Manual film counter on an Otto Berning and Co Schwelm-Weste ‘RoBot 1’ camera c1934
15 Selector button from a Juke box
16 Desk Calendar display
17 Jennings spiral auger bit No17 which would be 17x16th = 1-1/16″
18 Stanley No 18 Eureka Flush Bevel
19 Wooden Zig Zag ruler
20 potentiometer dial – No doubt part of the machine used to calculate the trajectory and fling S@#t – I mean disperse manure
21 Looks like a tumbler for a combination lock – but the ghosted numbers on the right is odd.
22 another juke box button
23 Keys from a Burroughs adding machine
24 chisel shaft
25 the 25 cent slot on a three coin pay phone
26 possible a wire drill gauge – such as dunlap
27 steel folding ziz-zag ruler
28 35mm camera f-stop dial also on Otto Berning and Co Schwelm-Weste ‘Robot 1’
29 Stanley no. 29 fore plane
30 Mitre saw set to 30 degrees – the saw blade could be a red herring though
31 Wooden Zig Zag ruler
32 The number on the shirt of the Football Blocker Calvin thinks about on the train
33 stamp machine – 3 stamps for a dime
34 two plane irons from a plough plane
35 Stanley/Bailey N0 35 transitional smoothing plane
36 10 Key adding machine – such as a dalton
37 Stanley No. 37 Jenny plane
38 number punches
I spent HOURS on this- so if I don’t win, I’m sending Megan a bill 🙂 I waited until as late as I dared so nobody would copy my answers. Some were REALLY hard and took a lot of research. Especially #16, 20, 21 and 32. But I am reasonably sure I got them right. Some interesting notes:
Numbers 1, 5, 12, 14, 20, and 28 appear to be from a Robot I camera, produced between 1934 and 38, possibly with a Zeiss Tessar or Xenar lens. I figured it was a model 1 because I believe it was the only model with the little crank on the front.
It is possible that the rotary dial (#8) and the coin slot (#25) are from the same pay telephone.
The three Jukebox photos are all Wurlitzer, but from two different models.
Several of the photos were not taken in Roy’s school. The blog didn’t say they were, but I originally assumed, until I started figuring out what they were.
… These are my hunches, which I thought I’d add for fun, but I am not staking the accuracy of my list upon them. My actual guesses are as follows…
1- Robot camera frame counter
2- IBM computer punch card
3- Audels Carpenter’s and Builder’s Guide Vol 3
4- RCA Victor radio dial
5- Robot camera shutter speed dial
6- Stanley #6 plane
7- Timer dial, perhaps a light switch
8- Rotary telephone
9- Folding rule, probably Lufkin, same as #27
10- 10 cent sticker on a floor standing weigh scale made at Toledo Scale Co. The number on the left is 295
11- The numbers 8, 11, 16… happen to be the order of “F-stops” on many photography meters, so I’m going with that.
12- Robot camera focus distance scale
13- Stanley #13 ruler with caliper end
14- Robot camera manual frame/exposure counter
15- Wurlitzer Jukebox track selection button (same as #22)
16- Wurlitzer Jukebox button number indicator (not the same machine as 15 and 22)
17- Auger bit end
18- Stanley #18 bevel gauge
19- Folding rule, same as #31
20- Atwater Kent (Possibly model 37) radio dial
21- Adding machine made by the American Adding Machine Co circa 1912
22- Wurlitzer Jukebox track selection button
23- “10 key” compact adding machine or check writer
24- 1 ½” auger bit
25- 25 cent Coin slot, likely from a pay telephone
26- Thread cutting setup plate from an 1880’s Barnes metal lathe (Perhaps 1887?)
27- Folding rule, probably Lufkin, same as #9
28- Robot Camera F-stop dial
29- Stanley #29 transitional plane
30- Miter saw angle index obscured by the blade
31- Folding rule, same as #19
32- Post office box number
33- Stamp sign- may advertise three 3 cent stamps for a dime.
34- Plough plane irons
35- Stanley #35 transitional plane
This contest has been a curse! I have had more people in more places googling random things in hopes of clues than I ever thought possible. Thanks for the cute idea – you will never know how much entertainment this provided for me and my friends.
1 radio room clock – has 12 hr and 24 hr time . This is the same object 14.
2 Computer punch Card
3 book cover of audel’s carpenters and builders guide, volume 3
4 face plate of a ham radio
5 Film Advance knob for 35mm SLR
6 stanley number 6 bench plane – fore
7 knob on electronic equipment – likely radio volume
8 rotary phone
9 steel rule – folding
10 toledo ohio scale – weight and scale only 10cents
11 Aperture light meter combo on robot camera?
12 Aperture setting on SLR Robot camera
13 Stanley No. 13 Boxwood & Brass Carpenter’s Caliper Rule, 6 inch/2 Fold
14 radio room clock – has 12 hr and 24 hr time -same as number one
15 selection gauge on a machine such as a juke box or vending machine – same object as 22
16 I had a lot of guesses but am going to settle with a date in a calendar
17 auger bit – no 17
18 Stanley bevel (Stanley No. 18
19 Folding Ruler (same one as 31)
20 combination lock, possibly on a safe
21 film strip count down such as for a film projector or a photo booth.
22 juke box – same object as 15
23 Adding Machine
24 dividers – looks like the font on mine, although they are number 7
25 quartercoin intake, possibly parking meter or payphone coin slot
26 lathe thread setting
27 the same metal ruler as number 9
28 Camera – Numbers are f stops
29 Stanley no. 29 Fore plane
30 angle gauge – potentially on a miter saw
31 Folding Ruler (same one as 19)
32 parking space number painted on concrete, if not numbers painted on the side of a tank
33 Vending Machine – Stamp
34 cutters for sure – maybe for a molding plane or 45
35 Stanley No. 35 Transitional Plane
36 type writer key – 3 or 6 depending if caps is on
37 Stanley No. 37 Adjustable Metallic Plumb & Level
38 Metal Punches
I wild love to have the book just to read even a off version if my guess don’t work I will have to go back to saving up for it.
Off=pdf I hate spell check
So I guess I know what I’m doing this afternoon! Thanks everyone, and good luck!
Thanks for the great idea it made a great little project
Certainly was fun. Thanks for doing this! Think I might have a mystery picture of the month on my blog. In the UK years ago a TV program used to do a similar thing but so much harder to work out without the internet.