On Mon, 7 Jun 2021 at 14:57, Christian Gagneraud via groups.io
 wrote:
>
> 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.

Wowhooo! I found it with a bit of perseverance:
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/032142871/publication/GB189
822017A?q=nftxt%20%3D%20%22rabone%22%20AND%20pd%20%3C%3D%20%221900%22

GB189822017 is Patent 22017 of year 1898:
Improvements in the Manufacture of Spirit Levels
Rabone, H. J.

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/3.2/rest-
services/images/documents/GB/189822017/A/formats/pdf/pages/?EPO-Trace-Id=8ypvgy-
9je6o6-XXX-000239

Chris