K&E Leroy Lettering Set

Background

During the days when drafting was done by hand, neat lettering could be done using a Leroy lettering set made by Keuffel & Esser.  Probably every drafting department had one or more of these sets.

Commercial Set

The outer cardboard box is marked 3245-15L which means that the Polished Mahogany box (EC3245-15) has slots for 15 templates,  3 each 15" long, 4 each 12" long and 4 each 9.5" long. The set contains:

• Template 3240-80CL
• Template 3240-100CL
• Template 3240-120CL
• Template 3240-140CL
• 12" Template 3240-175CL
• 12" Template 3240-200CL
• 12" Template 3240-240CL
• 12" Template 3240-290CL
• 15" Template 3240-350CL
• 15" Template 3240-425CL
• 15" Template 3240-500CL
• 9.5" Template 3240-80CL*
• 9.5" Template 3240-100CL*
• 9.5" Template 3240-120CL*
• 9.5" Template 3240-140CL*
• 9.5" Template 120CL - this template does not carry the K&E logo and has JAPAN stamped on the back
  
• Pens 3233-000, -00, -0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7 and -8
• K&E Pen Holder 3235* holds the Leroy pens for freehand use
  
• Adjustable Scriber 3237-2
• Scriber Stand 3238-10 (needs to be anchored with double sided tape for practical use)
  
• Lead Clutch 3238-2 & a tube of Leads 3238-4
• Socket Holder 3234-1
• Penholder 3235
• Fine Groove Tracer Pin 3238-3
• Lead sharpener Leroy 3514*
  
• Polished Mahogany box EC3245-15

* Not part of the stock Set.
The dash number of a template is the normal character heights in thousandths of an inch so this set covers 0.080 to 1/2" high letters, or you can think of the size number as "points" where one point is 1/10 of an inch.  The 3240 series templates are the Standard Lettering Templates.  Most templates are double sided.  Template model numbers ending with "CL" have both Capital and Lower case letters and the numbers.  Templates with model numbers ending with "C" have just the Capital letters.  The "L" models are Lower case letters only.  Some of the other templates have a "P" prefixing the other letters, don't know what it stands for.

Alternate Scriber design - Vintage or features?

Doric Sets

I have another set that K&E called "Doric" with a single template, scriber and tube of ink.  These were the low cost  starter sets for schools.  Mine is one of the early models in a Redwood box, later sets were in blow molded plastic boxes.  Mine is a Lettering Set No. 8935 and contains:

• 8925 Template with three alphabets
• 8920 Adjustable scriber
• 8910C & 8910E pens
• 8932 stranparent straight edge
• 8932 Lead holder
• 8909 Ink cartridge
• Clear Heart Redwood box and outer cardboard sheath
  

Patents

K&E

2011195    Adjustable Scriber Aug 13, 1935 33/23.04 - looks very similar to this set, shows 3240-120CS template
2050057*    Template April 4, 1936 33/23.04 - has character spacing holes
2050058*    Scriber April 4, 1936  A. W. Keuffel 33/23.04 - looks very similar to this set
2161236    Drafting Instrument June 6, 1939 33/454 - uses Scotch Drafting Tape to hold parallel rules
2213120    Attachment for Lettering Scribers April 27, 1940 33/23.04 - extended pen holder allows more fonts from the same template
2390466    Drafting Instrument Dec. 4, 1945 33/443; 33/23.04 - method of anchoring a straight edge
2559470    Drawing Instrument July 3, 1951 33/23.04; 33/494; 193/31R - very similar to 2390466
2574664    Lettering Scriber Nov. 13, 1951  33/23.04 - tail piece allows wide templates to be used without sloping characters
2616179    Lettering Device Nov. 4, 1952 33/23.04 - incorporates a correction for large letters to keep lines straight
D127962*    Lettering Scriber April 1, 1941 D19/41; 33/23.04 - looks exactly like the scriber in my set.
D141675   Symbol Template June 26, 1945 D10/64; 33/23.04 - Template with electrical circuit symbols, shows two, one only has a partial groove?
D144094    Symbol Template D10/64; 33/23.04 - double sided
* Marked on the bottom of the Adjustable Scriber 3237-2.

Rapidograph Koh-I-Noor

3383292   Method of Uniform Chrome Plating of a Plurality of Miniature Parts 205/128; 205/220 - used on their pen numbers 3165, 3076, 3095

Links

Mechanical Lettering -
Lead Holder, on line Museum -Leroy mechanical Pencil for use in Scriber - Partial K&E 1970 Leroy Catalog
MisterArt - Leroy supplies -
Yahoo Group Drawing Instruments -
Essco - Leroy Sets and supplies - an 11 template set is $345, single templates $37
Leroy items are frequently traded on eBay

K&E Documents

Including postage to U.S. mailing address and CA sales tax if you are in California.
These manuals are NOT on my CDWM.

Consider getting the package of K&E doucments by ordering the 1928 Catalog.

Manual	See product Page for ordering info
Leroy Lettering and Symbols CD-ROM 32 pages searchable (OCR) care and adjustment of K&E Surveying Instruments CD-ROM 90 pages	KESIL

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