Let's explore the No. 1 Stanley Odd-Jobs! There are at least three 'types' out there, mostly differentiated by scribe type (earliest ones could hold a pencil) and presence of various patent dates. The Stanley version first appeared in the late 1880s ('87 or '88, per the inter webs) and the tool was ultimately discontinued in 1935. An interesting article on the earliest iterations of the tool can be found here. Here is another article with pics of the tool is use. The Odd-Jobs also appeared on page 35 of Stanley's 1922 copy of Catalogue No. 34:
And courtesy of Stan Faulin, here is a cover scan from the tool's instruction sheet:
Here's my version of the tool, one of the later types (no Pat'd dates, identical to the Catalogue illustration above) with Level bubble visible that makes the tool capable of checking horizontal and vertical Level (or plumb).
Blurry pic, but there's flaking nickel coating that is keeping the face of the tool from being flat and smooth.
A few swipes 'back and forth' over 400 grit paper (on a flat surface) addressed that issue in short order. Looks better, too.
What does the Odd-Jobs do besides serve as a level, you ask? It was advertised as 10 Tools in One… I can't vouch for that (yet), but here are a few. Starting with Square (honorable mention: the Scribe Tool):
Reinsert that scribe tool into the Odd-Jobs, add a pencil, and you've got a Mortising Gauge:
Another feature of the Scribe Tool is a Screwdriver; it is tailored to be used for extending a point at the top of the Odd-Jobs, creating a Beam Compass:
The tool is a Depth Gauge:
And a Mitre Square, too.
And finally, the Odd-Jobs can check for Inside Square on boxes, frames, drawers, etc.
Any Stanley 1" wide carpenter's rule will fit, included this longer, brass-edge variety, should it be preferred.
Thanks for looking!
Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. - OldTools Archive -
Looks like a winner for the tool box while at a job site! mProbably has good collector value and eliminates finding the individual tool versions lost in the shop clutter. Of course it'd be easy to lose that and be really PO'd
Funny thing about collector value though. Think about those limited issue Woodpecker tools (for example, NOT picking on them)... they're expensive, very collectible, and designed to be useful. If I'd get one, I'd certainly use (vs. collect) it. Same with Vintage. There are tons of these things out there, so if you get one, use it. Because unless is NOS, in-box, etc., who cares? If it brings you joy, using a vintage tool just makes sense.
My .02
Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. - OldTools Archive -