Notifications
Clear all

Unusual Gurley Chain

4 Posts
4 Users
0 Reactions
2 Views
(@j-penry)
Posts: 1396
Registered
Topic starter
 

This Gurley No. 18 chain recently sold on eBay. It was advertised as being 50-feet in length.

The links seem too lightweight to be a day to day working chain. I am wondering if this was perhaps a chain used for precise baseline measuring. What is the metal strip attached to the handle on the right side?


 
Posted : June 9, 2016 7:44 am
(@moe-shetty)
Posts: 1426
Registered
 

[QUOTE= What is the metal strip attached to the handle on the right side?


WAG, but since the links are such light gauge, the heavier extra link may be a stiffener, so that the other links don't get bent in a tool bag or pocket, and when the chain is folded and put away. maybe

 
Posted : June 9, 2016 7:53 am
(@paden-cash)
Posts: 11088
 

Even though the gauge of the links seems small in diameter, you'll notice none of them are bent. My bet is it is made of high-carbon tensile steel and would probably break before it bent too far.

I bet the bar on the end is a "taping bar". You'll notice a notch near the handle for a plumb bob string. And the distance from the last link to that notch is 1 link. Which btw, looks to be .5' instead of .67'...if those are standard letter size sheets of paper.

So if there are 100 links, it would be a 50' engineer's chain.

 
Posted : June 9, 2016 8:19 am
(@foggyidea)
Posts: 3467
Registered
 

paden, my engineers chain is in 1' links, not half foot links.

 
Posted : June 9, 2016 12:21 pm