B&S no.1 micrometer
The professional's micrometer

Your Brown & Sharpe hand held Model 1 micrometer is manufactured in Switzerland. This is a professional's micrometer. It's a highly respected old stand-by of superior workmanship. You won't be able to find anything better.

The graduations are straight line (you remember those slant lines? They're only available by request).The spindle's carbide face has a slight bevel to minimize the possibility of chipping. A convertible thimble lets you switch between a friction thimble or static "feel" thimble.

Carbide measuring faces; satin chrome finish; but, the lines on the thimble are no longer engraved as they were on older models. As a result, they're noticeably fainter. (Perhaps we're being picky but we hate to see a good thing undergo changes.) Wood storage boxes, if needed, are sold separately.

Each micrometer comes with a manufacturer's certificate of calibration showing actual data.

One more thing: don't be fooled... not all B&S micrometers are Swiss made. You can probably find pretty cheap B&S micrometers made in USA. They're not the same quality, sad to say. Those shown on this page, are the ones worth buying.

Repair service and replacement parts, when needed, are readily available. We've been repairing these for over 40 years and we know that they're the best.

Inch models

• Model 599-1-32 ... 0-1" without micrometer standard ... $139.00 order 51090
• Model 599-2-32 ... 1-2" with 1" micrometer standard ... $179.00 order 51098
• Model 599-3-32 ... 2-3" with 2" micrometer standard ... $199.00 order 51106

Storage case for all 3 micrometers (above)

• Even though each of the above micrometers comes in a very good, hard plastic box, you may want to keep them all under one cover in this wood storage box, which also has room for the micrometer standards. This box is suitable only for the above style micrometers. Other brands or styles may not fit. ... $69.00 order now

Metric models

• Model 599-1-37 ... (0.002 mm) 0-25 without standard ... $139.00 order now
• Model 599-2-37 ... (0.002 mm) 25-50 with standard ... $169.00 order now

Optional

• Wood storage box 0-1" (0-25 mm) ... 599-1-9999 ... $29.00 order now
• Wood storage box 1-2" (25-50 mm) ... 599-20-9998 ... $39.00 order now
• Wood storage box 2-3" (50-75 mm) ... 599-30-9996 ... $49.00 order now
• measuring rods and micrometer standards are shown on page 7

Specifications

• .0001" graduations (0.002 mm on metric models)
• Measuring force of about 1 pound 4 ounces (10 Newtons)
• Maximum permissible error: 4 µm for 0-1" and 1-2" range
• Maximum permissible error: 5 µm for 2-3" range
• adjustment wrenches included
• chrome finish
• storage boxes sold separately
• Swiss made

"Maximum permissible errors include the errors of the measuring element as well as the deviations in flatness and parallelism of the measuring faces and the errors due to the flexure of the frame." - Brown & Sharpe

Before using your new Brown & Sharpe micrometer

Clean the measuring faces and then close the spindle to verify the zero setting. If an adjustment is necessary, follow these steps:

Clean the measuring faces with alcohol to remove the protective oil which the manufacturer has applied. Do not immerse the micrometer in the alcohol, just clean the faces. Close the spindle and lock it in place with the lock. The zero should line up. If there's a slight deviation, insert the spanner wrench into the hole on the barrel and turn the entire sleeve slightly until the zero lines up. If there's a larger deviation then you'll want to remove the thimble cap (which screws off) and loosen the hex set screw. At this point you can slide the thimble into proper alignment. Tighten the hex screw, replace the cap and then make any minor adjustments—if needed—as described above.

These micrometers have convertible thimbles. The default is a friction thimble. The idea is that when you close the spindle, the thimble will start to rotate without applying further force on your test piece. This is important because you could inadvertently fudge the reading by overtightening. The friction thimble makes this impossible. However, some people have developed the skill of measuring by "feel." In other words, they know when to stop turning. If this is your preference you can easily convert your micrometer as follows: Remove the end cap and slide out the plastic sleeve. Invert the sleeve and slip it back in place. Beware of the spring which you'll see on the barrel. The plastic sleeve has to fit easily over this spring. Don't force anything! Put the cap back on, and your micrometer no longer has a friction thimble. Give it a try and see what you think. It's easy to convert back and forth.

Your micrometer is accurate only when the surfaces remain parallel. If the thimble develops side play then you can be assured the surfaces are no longer parallel. You can adjust for side play by removing the end cap, loosen the hex screw and slide off the entire thimble. At this point you can use a wrench to tighten the nut—very slightly—at the end of the spindle. You can now check to see if this has corrected the problem. You may have to make several small adjustments to get it just right. Reassemble the micrometer when you're satisfied.

How to care for your micrometer

Should your Swiss made micrometer be subject to dirt or grime, clean and oil it as follows:

Back off the thimble until the measuring screw is free of the bushing threads and clean the parts as required with a solvent such as naphtha or xylol. Dry all parts. Lubricate the bushing threads with a high grade oil applied with a toothpick or eye dropper. Reposition the spindle lock so that the hole will align with the spindle and carefully replace the spindle. Don't force anything. If it won't go in freely then you probably don't have the hole lined up from the spindle lock. You may now have to reset zero as described above.

If your micrometer won't function after you've tried these adjustments, by all means send it to us for servicing before you create irreparable damage. We can resurface the faces to make them flat and parallel when they are worn. If the faces are chipped or seriously damaged, we can replace them.

For a discussion of different micrometer brands, how to calibrate them, etc. please see page 29.