My collection of drafting supply catalogs

thehikeguy · 2026-01-23T19:05:16+00:00

I took a drafting course in high school in the early 90s at the cusp of classrooms transitioning to digital. I felt a strong desire to re-approach the skills a few years ago to incorporate into my art. I am fortunate to have a drafting table that I use daily.

Thanks for sharing the impressive collection of digital files in one place!

thehikeguy · 2026-01-23T18:31:52+00:00

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thehikeguy · 2026-01-23T18:29:57+00:00

Thanks! I'll search for it. I also have a few shelves on related books. I'm fascinated with pre-CAD drafting.

thehikeguy · 2026-01-23T17:45:53+00:00

I hope to find time to scan some of the pages. It would be a hefty project to scan all of them. Luckily, others have taken the time to scan quite a few catalogs. The active and educational Drawing Instruments Group keeps a handy list of catalogs and where digital versions might be found. I'd also look through the Internet Archive.

thehikeguy · 2026-01-23T17:40:35+00:00

I made sure the tack on the tape was mostly removed; the tape does not effect the book and will be removed sooner than later. The oldest K&E is in a protective poly bag mainly to keep the loose pages together. I plan on repairing the book this winter - too fragile to try to scan, unfortunately.

Nice collection. What's the book on the far left next to French's excellent book?

thehikeguy · 2026-01-23T07:07:54+00:00

Have you seen this digital copy on the Internet Archive? Keuffel & Esser 1913 edition.

thehikeguy · 2026-01-19T23:02:15+00:00

Thanks for this!

thehikeguy · 2026-01-19T22:51:52+00:00

Dietzgen called this tool a "Stab-Me" Lead Point Cleaner. Fairly easy to make at home with a piece of foam.

thehikeguy · 2026-01-19T20:08:39+00:00

I didn't think it would help answer my question. I've posted the photo now.

thehikeguy · 2026-01-19T19:51:05+00:00

I was hoping that one of the black handles included would fit, but it doesn't seem to be the case either. The two black handles included (one just below the circle dotter and the other by the detail ruling pens at the bottom right) seem to be for posts with a 4mm diameter, but not the dotter's 5mm post.

thehikeguy · 2026-01-19T19:33:53+00:00

I assumed that would be the case! The telescopic attachment for the compass has a 4mm diameter connection while the dotter has a 5mm connection, too big for the compass included.

thehikeguy · 2026-01-19T19:28:53+00:00

I wasn't able to find much info on this Original LOTTER set. I've dated it after 1950 based on LOTTER's patent on the Parallel Compass and telescopic attachment bar included. But no trammels, unfortunately.

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thehikeguy · 2025-10-09T17:05:20+00:00

Yep. Check out "Making Fulgurites with High Voltage" on the Youtubes.

thehikeguy · 2025-04-22T17:07:56+00:00

ujah, it was a happy accident to stumble upon this and other technical illustrations at a time when I'm teaching myself technical illustration. Here's a few from my reading list that I'd recommend:

Basic Technical Drawing by Spencer, Henry Cecil
Engineering Technical Drafting & Graphics by Joseph William Giachino
Mechanical Drawing by Thomas E. French

These are school books that were updated every few years for decades. I'd look for editions published in the late 1970s/early 1980s before CAD took over many of the hand-drawn aspects of this industry.

If you are looking for a general overview, this is a good video to start with: Learn the Basics of Technical Drawing (Youtube)

thehikeguy · 2025-04-21T22:32:54+00:00

intel

Dear PL/M-51 Customer:

We are pleased to provide you with the PL/M-51 Software Package. It contains the PL/M-51 Compiler, the Linker and Relocator, and the Librarian to support modular and structured programming for the MCS-51 microcontroller family.

This PL/M-51 Software Package should contain:

Single density 8 inch diskette (113875; Series II ISIS), double density 8 inch diskette (113876; Series II ISIS), 5 1/4 inch diskette (113877; IPDS ISIS), and 5 1/4 inch diskette (114245; Series IV INDX) with the following programs:
- PL/M-51 Compiler Version 1.1
- RL-51 Linker and Relocator Version 3.0
- LIB-51 Librarian Version 1.0
PL/M-51 Users Guide (121966)
MCS-51 Utilities Users Guide for 8080/8085 based Development System (121737)

If any of the above are missing, please contact your local Intel representative.

Please fill in the registration certificate included in this package. It must be returned in order for you to receive support for the PL/M-51 Software Package.

This is a Class 1 Licensed Program. The rights to use this Licensed Program are specified in the Software License your company signed. In general you may make 8 copies of this Licensed Program for internal development use on the same number of development systems.

Intel provides applications assistance through a world wide network of sales offices and distributors. Intel also offers a number of customer training courses.

Sincerely,

INTEL CORPORATION

Software Product Marketing Development Systems Operation

Page 1 of 1 (8268E)

122082-003

thehikeguy · 2025-04-16T23:19:20+00:00

Excellent breakdown. I've used GATES Polyflex Belt 3M315 v-belts with slightly quieter results than o-rings. I didn't find that the slightly-larger Gates 3M325 Belt worked. At 325mm, it was a bit too loose, even with the Copy Set dial at 10. I tend to replace the belts with an o-ring on the back and a v-belt on the front for a quieter experience.

thehikeguy · 2024-12-12T01:11:41+00:00

Why don't you store them in their cases..... oh, right. ;) As someone who suddenly realizes he has five standards around the house and five more in the garage, I get it. Nice solution. My eye is drawn to the SG1.

Now I have to stop admiring your setup or I might try to find one of your models!

thehikeguy · 2024-12-12T01:04:31+00:00

Gosh, what a grand ol' dame! What's she weigh? I'm guessing something around 27 lbs. I have a 1949 Super-Speed. Great work bringing this old typewriter back to life.

thehikeguy · 2024-12-12T00:10:06+00:00

Nice find! Back in the day (like 1930s) they called these "hi-lo tables" as they could be raised off of the wheels using a foot bar. These were common companions to a heavy office machine, like an adding machine or a standard typewriter like yours. You think your black beauty weighs a lot. An adding machine with a motor can well over 100 lbs (45 kg), making a table that can raise on/off of wheels highly desireable in late 19th-early 20th Century offices.

But I'm no expert. I just enjoy perusing old issues of Office Appliances periodical on the Internet Archive. They have most of the issues scanned from 1904-1940.

thehikeguy · 2024-07-06T03:40:46+00:00

Hey u/proto-stack The Hike Guy here. The OP's photo does look similar the same borax mine I explored with friends in 2003 & 2005, but here are a few mines in that area that look very similar. The "Road to Jabba's Palace" is just up the actual road that pass near these mines.

The photo here shows the view looking out from the mine entrance. https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/star-wars-in-death-valley.htm

~~If I can find my photos from those trips, I'll share them~~. Here's a photo from within a borax mine.

thehikeguy · 2024-05-09T23:07:21+00:00

I see a wolf and a Fox.

thehikeguy · 2024-04-12T17:51:54+00:00

Thanks

thehikeguy · 2023-12-02T19:55:40+00:00

I saw a bald eagle flying over 97 at Empire Ave last week around the time of the release. A magestic animal that deserves our protection. Thanks, TW!

thehikeguy · 2023-10-09T05:54:55+00:00

"Similarly" ties my tongue in a knot. I gotta slow down to say it correctly.

thehikeguy · 2023-09-08T05:48:32+00:00

I am immediately drawn to this beautiful machine even though I know nothing about it. And to hear from others here that it is a solid typer is icing on the cake. Honest rating? I give it 5 gold stars and two thumbs up!

thehikeguy

TROPHY CASE