I used my sets of hermaphrodite calipers all the time when I worked in a fab shop. They were a life saver for doing layouts. I could easily layout centerlines and set distances from an edge on I-beams no matter how twisted they were. They’re also handy for doing sheet metal work. They’re a lot cheaper than replacing a combination square set when you’re doing open tolerance work.
Using them as you demonstrated is fine as long as the caliper scribe remains perpendicular to the work. If the foot gets ahead of the scribe, the line will change dimensions.
I just figured they where called hermaphrodite calipers because of being able to measure both male and female parts. I've used mine for setting either the I.D. or O.D. of something I'm measuring and taking it to a ruler. The legs can swing around to orient what I call the foot, to facilitate the use for inside or outside dimensions. They've been used to take linear measurements where it's difficult to place a ruler as well. For precision, I use vernier calipers. However they remain in the shop, the hermaphrodites travel. I haven't thought of using them as a scribe. Thank you for the tip, it's as if you gave me a new tool.
Finding the centers of shafts was a common use. Often the center was put in before the work was put in the lathe from what I understand. Heck I still do that on occasion if the job warrants such action.
Pretty handy and you can use the outside type (or maybe the leg is just flipped over) to scribe a line on sheet metal for guarding for example from the machine that the guarding is for.
It was not clear on the video that the legs on the examples can be opened out to scribe lines inside features. The curve on the leg will point outward to run on a raised edge.
Use mine all the time for doing layouts at the bench. Hermaphrodite calipers and a six inch scale to set them is faster than using a height gage on a surface plate to strike a line parallel to an edge. Place the point in the desired size marking on the scale and bring the other leg up to the end of the scale and Bob's your uncle. Import calipers are less than $30. The American made ones will last about four lifetimes so keep an eye out for used ones at estate sales.
These should be used in lieu of calipers for scribing lines for lathe work. I see that a lot on YT videos. During my apprenticeship it was common to layout castings and patterns with tools such as these. I still have my set from the 70's.
From Wikipedia: _The term hermaphrodite derives from the Latin: hermaphroditus, from Ancient Greek: ἑρμαφρόδιτος, romanized: hermaphroditos,[11] which derives from Hermaphroditus (Ἑρμαφρόδιτος), the son of Hermes and Aphrodite in Greek mythology. According to Ovid, he fused with the nymph Salmacis resulting in one individual possessing physical traits of male and female sexes.[12] According to the earlier Diodorus Siculus, he was born with a physical body combining male and female sexes.[13] The word hermaphrodite entered the English lexicon as early as the late fourteenth century._
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I used my sets of hermaphrodite calipers all the time when I worked in a fab shop. They were a life saver for doing layouts.
I could easily layout centerlines and set distances from an edge on I-beams no matter how twisted they were.
They’re also handy for doing sheet metal work.
They’re a lot cheaper than replacing a combination square set when you’re doing open tolerance work.
Using them as you demonstrated is fine as long as the caliper scribe remains perpendicular to the work. If the foot gets ahead of the scribe, the line will change dimensions.
I used them regularly in my shipyard days for laying out large bolt circles on various ship parts.
I just figured they where called hermaphrodite calipers because of being able to measure both male and female parts.
I've used mine for setting either the I.D. or O.D. of something I'm measuring and taking it to a ruler. The legs can swing around to orient what I call the foot, to facilitate the use for inside or outside dimensions. They've been used to take linear measurements where it's difficult to place a ruler as well. For precision, I use vernier calipers. However they remain in the shop, the hermaphrodites travel.
I haven't thought of using them as a scribe. Thank you for the tip, it's as if you gave me a new tool.
Finding the centers of shafts was a common use. Often the center was put in before the work was put in the lathe from what I understand. Heck I still do that on occasion if the job warrants such action.
Mr. Pete has a full collection of those hermafrodite calipers LOL
Pretty handy and you can use the outside type (or maybe the leg is just flipped over) to scribe a line on sheet metal for guarding for example from the machine that the guarding is for.
We refer to them as “odd legs”
I've always known these as 'Jenny Odd Legs'
It was not clear on the video that the legs on the examples can be opened out to scribe lines inside features. The curve on the leg will point outward to run on a raised edge.
Thank you
Use mine all the time for doing layouts at the bench. Hermaphrodite calipers and a six inch scale to set them is faster than using a height gage on a surface plate to strike a line parallel to an edge. Place the point in the desired size marking on the scale and bring the other leg up to the end of the scale and Bob's your uncle. Import calipers are less than $30. The American made ones will last about four lifetimes so keep an eye out for used ones at estate sales.
Thanks for sharing 👍
AKA odd leg or Jenny calipers
Does Starett still make them, or are the just selling from the batch they made in the 1940's? 😊
These should be used in lieu of calipers for scribing lines for lathe work. I see that a lot on YT videos. During my apprenticeship it was common to layout castings and patterns with tools such as these. I still have my set from the 70's.
Still use my "Jenny" from time to time.
Jenny Legged Calipers
I think the biggest question is “How did they get that name?”
The answer is not exactly jumping out at me 🤔
From Wikipedia: _The term hermaphrodite derives from the Latin: hermaphroditus, from Ancient Greek: ἑρμαφρόδιτος, romanized: hermaphroditos,[11] which derives from Hermaphroditus (Ἑρμαφρόδιτος), the son of Hermes and Aphrodite in Greek mythology. According to Ovid, he fused with the nymph Salmacis resulting in one individual possessing physical traits of male and female sexes.[12] According to the earlier Diodorus Siculus, he was born with a physical body combining male and female sexes.[13] The word hermaphrodite entered the English lexicon as early as the late fourteenth century._
@@peteroleary9447
reminds me of the hermaphrodite dog that fancied itself, never got round to it ;