Bubbles in engineering combination squares!

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I refer to the bubble in the spirit level part of the combination square. I have a unit with no bubble does anyone know where I can purchase a replacement capsule? Not a bubble! It is the same size as the common M&W combination square. Before anyone says why bother or buy a new combination square. This one is a bit of a family heirloom. My great Uncle purchased it in Detroit in about 1910, so at least it is an antique! I have spruced it up but cannot seem to find a replacement spirit level capsule. Maybe not looking in the correct place.

A similar problem with a neighbours Rabone (Pre Rabone and Chesterman!) 12"sensitive machine level. This is a big beast and strangely enough I have exactly the same one! The problem here, is not only getting a replacement capsule (probably impossible!) but actually getting the thing apart. For the life of me I cannot see how to dismantle it. Seems to have been brazed or soldered up, as the end caps will not come off!

Even if I cannot get a replacement capsule, I would still love to know how it comes apart. It is really bugging me!

Thanks,

Andrew.

P.S.I can do a replacement as far as cementing in and setting it up.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

How about buying a spare M&W Vial lots of others about if you search "replacement vial"

Edited By JasonB on 21/08/2017 20:22:05

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

Hi there, Andrew,

Have a browse through the thread linked here, you may find it interesting.

(There's quite a lot of it! )

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Edited By Swarf, Mostly! on 21/08/2017 21:19:57

Edited By Swarf, Mostly! on 21/08/2017 21:20:30

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

Hi there, again, Andrew,

As I wrote, there's quite a lot of it – I suggest that you start at page 4.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

[charadamParticipant @charadam]

Or try "phial".

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

ISTR over the years an article in MEW on making your own level, including the glass or plastic vial with bubble. Can;t remember when it ran though. Might be worth a search on one of the indexes.

[Dinosaur EngineerParticipant @dinosaurengineer]

Vials for the Starrett 12" levels can be obtained from Starrett Jedburgh ( spelling ?) Scotland These may fit. The ends of the Vial cylinder are a press fit on my Starrett level. M/W may be the same.. They were easily removed when I fitted a new vial.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Google 'spirit level bubble replacement'.

You will find enough choices of size and accuracy to float a battleship

Neil

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I remember sending the newest office boy / apprentice out to buy a new bubble for spirit levels… with the comment… 'don't let them fob you off with 'better off buying a new phial, …you only want the bubble…

​George.

[MeunierParticipant @meunier]

George, I was the recipient of such a ploy as a naïve 15yr old trainee instrument maker. Sent for a long weight I rang the bell on the stores counter and was told to wait as they were putting together a large order. The penny finally dropped a few minutes later so rang the bell again and asked what was the largest brass bar that I could carry. This was met with a grin and he came back with a 4ft length of 5in dia bar that I had to sign my life away for its return. Only problem was that the MD arrived at the shop door at the same time as me and held the door open for me to wobble through and gave the engineer an earful.
DaveD

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Posted by Meunier on 22/08/2017 21:29:20:

George, I was the recipient of such a ploy as a naïve 15yr old trainee instrument maker. Sent for a long weight I rang the bell on the stores counter and was told to wait as they were putting together a large order. The penny finally dropped a few minutes later so rang the bell again and asked what was the largest brass bar that I could carry. This was met with a grin and he came back with a 4ft length of 5in dia bar that I had to sign my life away for its return. Only problem was that the MD arrived at the shop door at the same time as me and held the door open for me to wobble through and gave the engineer an earful.
DaveD

Hi DaveD, unless you were built like the proverbial brick smelly place at 15yrs, I doubt that you would be able to lift 4ft of 5in brass bar, let alone carry it, probably weighting in at an excess of 125Kg the storeman wouldn't be foolhardy enough to bring it to you either.

Regards Nick.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

… 'Sent for a long weight '…
Me too,when I was a 15 year old office boy, I was sent to the welders shop for a 'long stand ' that was being made. The penny dropped after about 20 min's when the welder, laughing his boots off, said 'haven't you stood long enough lad'… DOH!

George.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

We sent a lad off for the Mercury Magnet to pick up globules from the lab floor having dropped a thermometer. All the stores on site played the game until the poor lad finally came back nearly 2 hours later empty handed looking crestfallen from the millwrights, the final store he went to.

Even then he didn't twig it was a joke!!

Brian

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Hi Dinosaur Engineer,

Thanks for the tip about Starrett and the phials (vials?) for their 12 " spirit levels. I will email them to see what the diameter is, who knows it may well fit!

The 12" level in question is a Rabone (predating Rabone and Chesterman). The end caps (as is the whole body) is chrome plated. They won't shift with tugging on them! Maybe pressed on? I doubt they have been soldered on, as the chrome is unlikely to take solder, maybe just glued on? But this is unlikely considering the date of manufacture (pre war or just post war).

I suppose press fit is the answer, unless I am weaker than I think!

Andrew.

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Possibly held by shellack, examine the seam to see if it is dark in the seam. If it is then apply heat to soften.

Clive

[MeunierParticipant @meunier]

Posted by Nicholas Farr on 23/08/2017 02:05:13:

Posted by Meunier on 22/08/2017 21:29:20:

George, I was the recipient of such a ploy as a naïve 15yr old trainee instrument maker. Sent for a long weight I rang the bell on the stores counter and was told to wait as they were putting together a large order. The penny finally dropped a few minutes later so rang the bell again and asked what was the largest brass bar that I could carry. This was met with a grin and he came back with a 4ft length of 5in dia bar that I had to sign my life away for its return. Only problem was that the MD arrived at the shop door at the same time as me and held the door open for me to wobble through and gave the engineer an earful.
DaveD

Hi DaveD, unless you were built like the proverbial brick smelly place at 15yrs, I doubt that you would be able to lift 4ft of 5in brass bar, let alone carry it, probably weighting in at an excess of 125Kg the storeman wouldn't be foolhardy enough to bring it to you either.

Nick, I'm sure you are correct, I was long and lanky not like the proverbial brick outhouse. I suspect 58yr old memories are at play here, nevertheless it was a lumpy brass bar that I could just about carry.

Regards Nick.

[Dinosaur EngineerParticipant @dinosaurengineer]

Posted by Andrew Tinsley on 23/08/2017 10:37:00:

Hi Dinosaur Engineer,

Thanks for the tip about Starrett and the phials (vials?) for their 12 " spirit levels. I will email them to see what the diameter is, who knows it may well fit!

The 12" level in question is a Rabone (predating Rabone and Chesterman). The end caps (as is the whole body) is chrome plated. They won't shift with tugging on them! Maybe pressed on? I doubt they have been soldered on, as the chrome is unlikely to take solder, maybe just glued on? But this is unlikely considering the date of manufacture (pre war or just post war).

I suppose press fit is the answer, unless I am weaker than I think!

Andrew.

Try holding one end cap in a vice & twisting the other with a close fitting spanner and "wiggling" off. This worked on my Starrett.. FYI The Starrett vial cost was less than £8 incl. postage quite a few years ago

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