I've ignored the "Followup-To: " header, because I believe that this
also belongs in at least rec.crafts.metalworking, where I am following
it, and I would miss my own followup and any responses if it were kept
to a single group as requested.

On 2011-11-20, Fred Abse wrote:
On Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:41:03 -0600, amdx wrote:

That's why I like the Dial calipers vs Digital Calipers, no concern
about batteries or electronics.

I prefer a "proper" vernier. At least you can verify those by eye.

Depends on how old the eye is and how good the illumination is.

I never
did trust digital calipers to hold their zero and not skip under workshop
conditions, Half a lifetime dealing with incremental encoders has made me
wary.

The old B&S ones, which used glass encoders in the slot where
the rack gear would otherwise be were sensitive to coolant in the slot.
But the modern units seem to be quite good at not skipping.

I *might* trust a Mitutoyo digital caliper or height gage in inspection
room conditions.

I trust them (as much as a caliper *can* be trusted compared to
a micrometer) in shop conditions as well.

Dial calipers have all sorts of racks and gears to go sloppy.

Agreed -- or to pick up bits of swarf and skip.

I suppose nobody under fifty knows how to read a real vernier, or a slide
rule for that matter ;-(

I know how to use both -- but then I am (well) over fifty. :-)

But there have been verniers on the thimbles of the better
micrometers much more recently than that, so presumably some of the
younger crowd know.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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