The Davistown Museum

Center for the Study of Early Tools

Scattered throughout The Davistown Museum are tools by important manufacturers who are also the subject of

information files compiled by the museum. This is a listing of our holdings for:

Leonard L. Davis (Davis Level & Tool Co.)

Status

Location

The Industrial Revolution (1865f.): Classic Period of American Machinist's Tools

Measuring Tools

102501T1

Inclinometer level

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LPC

Cast steel and brass, 6" long, 14/16" wide, 2 1/2" high, 2" diameter meter, signed "DAVIS LEVEL & TOOL Co" and "PAT.SEP

17, 1867" with owner's signature "J.F. McCABE".

This tool is also referred to as a mantle clock level. DATM (1999) pg. 214 has historical information on this company.

41203T1

Line level

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LPC

Cast iron and brass, 3 1/2" long, signed "MANUFACTURED BY L.L. DAVIS SPRINGFIELD MASS" and "37 1/2".

Leonard L. Davis made levels and planes in Springfield, MA, 1867-1875, before changing the name of his company to Davis

Level & Tool Co. (1875 - 92). An excellent example of one of the most sought after pocket or line levels by one of the most

distinguished manufacturers of the classic period of American machinist's tools.

32802T1

Outside calipers

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DTM

Steel, 4" high, signed "Pat. Jan 4 1887" with obscured maker's mark.

The maker's mark would probably be: Davis Level & Tool Co. Springfield, Mass.

The Industrial Revolution (1865f.): Other Factory Made Tools

Other Woodworking Tools

032203T12

Bit brace

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DTM

Steel, brass and wood, 14" long with a 5" swing, signed "The Davis Level & Tool Co Springfield Mass" "Pat April 17, 1883 Oct

14, 1884".

Davis Level & Tool Co. made levels, dividers, machinist and other tools in Springfield, MA, from 1875 to 1892. Prior to 1875,

their tools were marked "Davis Co." (1867 - 1875). These tools are considered among the finest produced by American

toolmakers in the 19th century.

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