I have learnt much of what I know about old instruments & tools from my collection of catalogues and brochures. Besides the originals described below I have a number of photocopies (Halden 1902 and 1910; Thornton 1895; Threadwell pre & post WWII), and also some leaflets from A West, W F Stanley, Standardgraph, Rotring and Addiator. Please contact me if you would like details of particular items from these catalogues. I will email scans of relevant pages (but not whole sections or catalogues).
Allott Jones & Co Ltd, Pall Mall, Liverpool, “Drawing Office Supplies”
Undated, comparing prices with other catalogues suggests it is about 1930.
Small 4to, 43 pages
Blundell Harling Ltd, Regulus Works, Lynch Lane, Weymouth, UK, “General Catalogue”
January 1980.
4to, 36 pages
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co, Rochester, NY, “Microscopes and other Scientific Instruments”
1929,
8vo, 318 pages
C F Casella & Co Ltd, Regent House, Fitzroy Square, London W1, “Surveying & Drawing Instruments and Appliances.” Catalogue no 564,
1930s
8vo, 260 pages
Eugene Dietzgen Co, “Drafting & Surveying Supplies.”
1928
8vo, 496 pages
With Price List no 13, August 1928
James Dinsdale Ltd, New Station Street, Leeds 1, “A Catalogue of Drawing Instruments & Materials.”
September 1960
8vo, 52 pages
B K Elliott Co, Pittsburgh, Pa “Drawing Materials and Surveying Instruments” 6
8vo, 436 pages
With price list for catalog 6, Nov 1938
and Discount Sheet effective July 1943
Friedmann Bros Drawing Instrument Co, New York, “Precision”
Pen dated “received 1-16-39”
8vo, 54 pages
With price list No 2, March 1, 1935,
Pen dated as above.
Esmond Hellerman Ltd, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, “Modern Drawing Equipment”
8vo, 140 pages
With supplementary pages, trade price list for Sept 1964, and notice of temporary import charge dated Nov 1964.
Instruments Limited, Canada, “Catalogue No 47”
Undated, but 1947
8vo, 364 pages
Keuffel & Esser Co, New York, 37th Edition.
January 1928
8vo, 548 pages
I also have an incomplete 1936 38th edition.
K&E Catalog 41st Edition Part 1.
“Drafting and Reproduction Equipment and Materials Slide Rules”
October 1949
8vo, 256 pages
MDS, London, “Surveying & Drawing Instruments”
March 1940
8vo, 44 pages
New York Blue Print Paper Co “Catalogue of Drawing Materials & Engineering Instruments”, Volume 10, February 1916.
12mo, 400 pages
18th edition catalog of the Frederick Post Co, Dependable Drawing Materials Sensitised Papers and Cloths Engineering Instruments and Supplies.
January 1936
8vo, 416 pages
With Price List No 18, May 1, 1940
Rotring “precision without compromise”
1978
4to, 32 pages
With Recommended retail price list 1st February 1979 for Rotring Technical Drawing Equipment, and Rotring Isograph F drawing pen leaflet
(All printed in Germany for UK market)
W F Stanley & Co Ltd, London, England, 29th “K” edition, Drawing Instruments, 1912
12mo, 112 pages
With list of “Revised Prices, November 1918”
I also now have the full ‘K’ edition of 360 pages covering surveying & optical instruments as well.
Stanley, London, 33rd “A” edition catalogue
1958
8vo, 392 pages
With November 1958 price list and leaflets for Draftmaster Parallel Motion Unit, Popular Levelling Outfit, Optical Mean-Reading Level, and A1 Optical Micrometer Theodolite.
The International Correspondence Schools, Scranton, Pa, Illustrated Catalogue and Price List Drawing Instruments and Appliances, Drawing Papers and Materials, Surveying Instruments, Mining Instruments, Anemometers, Safety Lamps, Etc
8vo, 76 pages
Undated, pre WWI
Schrell & Brock, New York, General Catalog of Drawing Materials, Architects, Engineers and Surveyors Supplies.
First Edition
1940s
8vo, 176 pages
A G Thornton, Ltd, Manchester “Drawing Surveying & Scientific Instruments and Drawing Office Materials, Edition D, 1916
8vo, 448 pages
A West & Partners Ltd, 36 Broadway, London SW1, Section 2, Drawing Instruments and Materials
8vo, 238 pages
With Price List no 1 section 2, March 1953
A West & Partners Ltd, Uno Pen Stencils and Accessories, 8vo, 56 pages, with Jan 1st 1953 price list and three leaflets for templates.
Keuffel & Esser Co, Leroy Lettering Equipment, 8vo, 37 pages, 1960.
I also have a 1962 catalogue (same cover) in which the numbering system for K&E products has changed. It includes a list of equivalent old and new numbers for Leroy items.
B J Hall & Co, London, Section No. 1, Mathematical Drawing Instruments, 8vo, 67 pages, with 1935 amendments pasted in.
Many of the instruments shown were made by A G Thornton, C Riefler or W H Harling.
W H Harling Ltd, Catalogue of Mathematical Drawing & Surveying Instruments, 8vo, 132 pages, September 1930
1913 Keuffel & Esser catalogue of drawing and surveying instruments and materials. 8vo. 34th edition. Comprehensive 566 page catalogue
A West & Partners Ltd, 36 Broadway, Westminster, London SW1 catalogue of surveying instruments, drawing instruments and materials, etc. 8vo. 1930 edition updated with new prices 1935. 251 pages include nearly 30 pages of tables at the back such as logarithms, trig tables, British Standard sections and constants.
Aristo 1955 catalogue of Slide Rules and Drafting Instruments. 40 pages, 8vo.
J Halden & Co Ltd,
8 Albert Square, Manchester.
Drawing Instruments, Surveying Instruments, Drawing Office Materials, etc.
257 pages, 8vo
c1925
H Cole Co., Columbus, Ohio Catalogue No.
4-D Drafting and Blue Printing Instruments, Equipment and Supplies.
126 pages, 8vo
1920s probably
Includes Richter and Schoenner drawing instruments.
Gebr. Wichmann Haupt-Katalog 20th edition, Berlin, 1939
778 pages 8vo
Drawing instruments and equipment, surveying instruments.
Includes some Richter and Riefler drawing instruments and Ott planimeters and integrators. In German.
A G Thornton Ltd. Mathematical Drawing Instruments Catalogue, 1930
80 pages, 8vo
Metal instruments only
Anleitung zum Gebrauch des Rechenstabes, Gebr. Wichmann.
32 page, 4to booklet containing slide rule instructions and 15 page catalogue of slide rules, drawing instruments, etc.
Early 20th century
Katalog der Prazisions Reisszeugfabrik
E O Richter & Co
143 pages large 8vo
1928
Also 1928 price list and new vs. Old catalogue numbers booklet
Bayerische Reisszeugfabrik AG, vorm. Eichmuller & Co., Preisliste Ausgabe 1929
104 pages 4to 1929 Ecobra catalogue.
Also 1932 price list and leaflets
A G Thornton Ltd. Mathematical Drawing Instruments Minerva and B E Series, 1938
8vo, 48 Pages
Keuffel & Esser Drawing Instruments and Materials for High Schools Preparatory Schools and Manual Training Schools, 1936
8vo, 117 pages.
Also May 1937 price list
Standardgraph Catalogue 75
4to, 36 pages
Pens, templates and some drawing instruments.
A Catalogue of Surveying, Engineering and Drawing Office Requisites.
J V Navlakhi & Co., 533 Kalbadevi Road, Bombay
W F Stanley and A W Faber-Castell agents
8vo, 172 pages
Probably 1940s
Illustrated Catalogue Mining, Surveying, Mathematical, Drawing, Optical and Scientific Instruments manufactured by T B Winter & Son, Opticians
8vo, 64 pages
August 1889
Watts Surveying and Engineeering Instruments and Drawing Office Supplies
8vo, 150 pages
ca. 1927
Hughes Owens Catalogue No. 37
catalogue of drawing and surveying instruments, etc
8vo, 262 pages
1937
1937 price list in back pocket
Moore & Wright British Precision Engineer’s Tools List No. 36
November 1936
8vo, 160 pages
Buck & Hickman Ltd General List of Tools & Supplies for all Mechanical Trades
1964
8vo, 1231 pages
I also have the 1935 catalogue
Norton & Gregory Ltd. Section III Drawing Appliances and Section IV Drawing Materials
August 1938
Large 8vo’
Pages 145 to 295
New York Blue Print Paper Co. Catalogue
1921
8vo, 384 pages
Charles Bruning 13th edition catalogue
1939
8vo, 388 pages
March 1942 price list in pocket inside back cover
W F Stanley U edition catalogue
Ca. 1946
12mo, 377 pages
Paper covers, very thin ‘utility’ paper pages, small print
W F Stanley P edition catalogue
1931
12mo, 448 pages
Paper covers, small print
Also 1936 revised price list
A Lietz Co Catalog
LR45 Drawing Instruments & Supplies
1945
8vo, 120 pages
Soft covers
Hughes Owens ‘58 catalogue
1958
8vo, 328 pages
hardback
Halden ‘Jaywess’ drawing instruments
1936
8vo, 4fold leaflet
Plus 1937 prices amendment
B Charles Roff & Co, Leeds, “Everything for the Modern Drawing Office” catalogue of drawing office supplies, etc.
1965, soft covers
US 4to, 109 pages
Plus price list and a leaflet on dyeline printing machines
Gurley’s Manual
42nd edition, 1908
Small 8vo, 470 pages
Last 220 pages are a catalogue of drawing and surveying instruments.
I have a later manual but the later ones do not contain a catalogue
Rowney Artists Materials 1979
Small 8vo, 96 pages
Mainly paints, paint boxes, and painting accessories
Harper & Tunstall Ltd 1930s catalogue with 1937revised price list.
8vo, 104 pages
Drawing instruments & slide rules.
Mainly a retailer of Thornton & other makes
Lawes Rabjohns Technical Catalogue Section 3 Drawing Instruments
8vo, 120 pages
Technical Catalogue \no. 303, Spring 1954
A retailer of Thornton, Harling and Lee Guiness instruments
Waterlow & Sons Ltd Artists’ Drawing Materials catalogue
Section F
Large 8vo, 32 pages
Ca.1910?
Good drawing instrument section
Jackson Bros Ltd. Armley, Leeds
Price List of Improved Requisites for Technical and Art Students and Draughtsmen
8vo, 32 pages
Ca. 1950
ICS Catalogue of Technical Supplies specially selected for the use of ICS students
Small 8vo, 24 pages
May 1950
Drawing instruments, slide rules, etc
Allott Jones & Co Ltd. Liverpool catalogue of drawing office supplies
8vo, 192 pages
January 1960
Good drawing instrument sections (Harling, Riefler & Kern instruments)
1960 price list in pocket
Kuffel & Esser Co catalogue
8vo, 475 pages
Hardback
1955
John Hall (Tools) Ltd. Hand and Machine Tools
4to, 680 pages
Hardback
1951
Lee Guiness brochure
6 fold leaflet, printed both sides, large 8vo when folded
1957
Plus 1957 price list
Moore & Wright catalogue
8vo, 165 pages
April 1952
Baird & Tatlock (London) Ltd Scientific Instruments & Apparatus
1962
4to, 767 pages
All sorts of laboratory & school apparatus
Catalogue of Optical Lanterns, Lantern Accessories, Slides and Kinematograph Films
Gardner & Co
Ca,1900/1910
8vo, 204 pages
Surveyor’s Levels
Cooke Troughton & Simms
8vo, 20 pages
+ 1957 price list
+ levelling staves supplement
1970 Drawing and Surveying Instruments Catalogue No 9
Holmes Bros (Leyton) Ltd
A4, 32 pages
Mainly drawing boards and levelling staves
S700 Self-aligning Level
Cooke, Troughton & Simms
Brochure CS700B
8vo, 12 pages
S500 Geodetic Level
Cooke, Troughton & Simms
Brochure CS500
8vo, 16 pages
Watts Autoset Level 1
Hilger & Watts
1962
Brochure CS153
8vo, 8 pages
1911 Surveying and Drawing Instruments catalogue
C F Casella & Co Ltd
Tall 8vo, 132 pages
Includes some unusual instruments and descriptions of their use
1954 Mathematical Drawing Instruments catalogue
Hall Harding Ltd
4to, 140 pages
Retailed Thornton, Harling, Stanley, Lee Guiness, Wild & Riefler instruments
Drawing Instruments Harper & Tunstall Ltd with June 1955 price list stapled in
8vo, 50 pages
Soft covers
Retailed Thornton, Harling, Lee Guiness & Allbrit instruments
Brown & Sharpe Small Tools Catalog No 33A
1938
British edition
Small 8vo, 320 pages
Soft covers
Starrett Tools Catalog Number 24
1927
British edition
8vo, 368 pages
Starrett First Edition Catalogue No 64
1964
British edition
Large 8vo, 114 pages
Soft covers
L S Starrett Company Ltd
Jedburgh, Scotland
(new factory)
C Baker Surveying and Drawing Instruments catalogue.
Ca.1930
4to, 104 pages
Soft covers
Reseller of instruments from a variety of makers
Gregory & Sutcliffe Ltd Engineering Equipment Tools and Materials Catalogue
1969
Large 8vo, 320 pages
Hard covers
Cooke Troughton & Simms Ltd Equipment for Surveyors and Draughtsmen catalogue
1929
8vo, 310 pages
Hard covers
Drawing instruments by Harling, Riefler & others
Norton & Gregory Ltd Catalogue
1909
8vo, 220 pages
Hard covers
Surveying instruments, drawing instruments & materials, photo processes & apparatus,
office stationery & furniture
Norton & Gregory Ltd
Diamond Instruments of Precision catalogue
1922
Large 8vo, 24 pages
Stapled paper
Diamond series drawing instrunents
Dietzgen catalogue 22D
Eugene Dietzgen Co
1948 + price list
8vo, 160 pages
Stapled, soft covers
Range of drawing instruments, equipment and materials
St Louis retailer
Dollond catalogue Section B, Price List Surveying Instruments
Large 8vo, 16 pages
Stapled paper
Theodolites, levels, compasses, mining dials, etc.
Early 20th century