LowEnergyParticle wrote:
Measuring tools and instruments often come in wooden cases. I've seen
mahogany, birch, poplar, pine, and several other woods used. The idea
is that the case will absorb moisture from the tool and thereby keep
it from rusting.

snip

.... and all this time I thought the cases were to prevent the tool from
getting banged, damaged and knocked out of alignment.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA