On Mon, 7 Jun 2021 at 02:14, Kirk Eppler  wrote:
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 10:06 PM Christian Gagneraud  wrote:.
>>
>> I have 2 12" Rabone levels, No 1370, with patent No 22017 marked on them.
>> Couldn't find much info online, only interesting match is
>> https://www.htpaa.org.au/images/pdfs/Salesman_Samples_Giveaways-
The_Tool_Chest_August_2008_1.pdf
>> .
>> So apparently I have 2 early models, pb is I do not know what "early"
>> means in terms of dating. Apparently their sample was matched with a
>> 1892 catalogue.
>> I don't think my 2 levels are that old.
>> Couldn't find the patent data either.

> The move to Hockley was 1871
>
> https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/John_Rabone_and_Sons

They also mention:
1872 The company's newly patented spirit levels and rules were
exhibited in Moscow, Vienna, Sydney and Melbourne.

https://www.bl.uk/help/find-early-british-patents
They say that starting from 1852, patent numbers refer to a specific
year (so you need to know the year and the patent number).
So higest patent number by the end of 1852 is 14359.

Year 1892 is the first year to have more than 22k patents applied for.
So patent No 22017 seems to have been emitted after 1892...
Confusing and no possibility to do online research. :(
I filled a request form, let's see how lucky I'll be.

Chris