DRAFT Stanley No. 12 Improved Try Square Type Study     

Manufactured : 1888 to 1984 Patent: Justus Traut's 5/26/1874 ( handle depressions, construction) Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 inch Construction: Cast iron, steel blade Finish: japanned or nickel plating Notes: Originally the No. 2; designed no 12 in 1888. The No. 2 can be considered the type 1 of the No. 12. Walter notes that some early models have observed with nickel finish as shown in the middle square to the left. Design changed in 1898 to Stanley logo cast into frame, nickel plated as shown in the far left square. Offered with metric graduations in 1902. the 2-inch blade size was dropped in 1939. Handles have crosshatch pattern in the 1940's. last production types are more commonly found with metric graduations. these have the Stanley's notched trademark.

 

Type	Period	Catalog Pictures and Notes	Sample
Type 1a	1874 - 1887
Type 1b		Note the Stanley logo and nickel plated handle as well as Type 1 rivets with lead infill and patent date in same.This style of handle does not appear in any of the Stanley catalogs but could be assumed to represent later "Type 1" squares.
Type 2	1898-1984

 

Comparison of Stanley No. 12 Handles and Markings

Type 1a
Type 1b
Type 2

 

Note the three rivets design used in the larger size squares.

 

Type

Period

Trademark

Notes

Picture of Mark

1

1888 to 1897

hand stamped numbers and patent date in lead infill

Same as Stanley #2 Patented Improved Try Square . Handle is jappaned and Justus Traut's 5/26/1874 patent date is impressed on the lead infill between the rivets. Later models are nickel plated with "Stanley" cast into handle also. Have been observed with and without the patent date impressed in the lead infill.

2

1898 to 1906

O trademark stamp

"Stanley" in Block Letters with 5/26/1874 Patent date

2

1907 to 1909

T trademark stamp

"Stanley Rule & Level Co. New Britain Conn. U.S.A." in the form of a T

2

1910 to 1920

V trademark stamp

"Stanley New Britain Conn. U.S.A." in the form of a V

2

1920

X trademark stamp

Notched rectangle containing "Stanley" with Sweetheart (SW) mark intersecting on bottom third of rectangle. "New Britain, Conn, U.S.A." below SW mark.

2

1921 & 1922

Y trademark stamp

Notched rectangle containing "Stanley" with Sweetheart mark intersecting on bottom third of rectangle. "Made in U.S.A." below SW mark.

2

1923 to  1935

AA trademark stamp

Notched rectangle containing "Stanley" with Sweetheart mark intersecting on bottom edge of rectangle. "Made in U.S.A." below SW mark.

2

1936 to  1984

BB trademark stamp

Notched rectangle containing "Stanley"   "Made in U.S.A." below trademark.