Anton Schneider Drafting Set

​This is the largest, most comprehensive drafting set that I have ever seen, measuring 18 inches (45 cms) across the width. The set is in fine condition.

The mahogany wooden box includes a beam compass, rolling ruler/section liner, proportional dividers, line counters, ink pens for drawing contours and parallel lines, dividers, compasses, etc, etc.

The set originally, or at some time, belonged to Bobby D Grimmett as shown engraved on the plaque on the top of the box.

​I am currently in the process of trying to contact relatives of this man to find out what profession and time period that he worked in.

​I am also trying to contact the maker to see if the Company can provide information on the correct use of some of the instruments that I am not familiar with.

If anybody can tell me what and how the two odd looking instruments are used that are at the two front corners of the set are I would be greatly appreciated.

Update 27th December 2017
The item in the front right hand corner is a ruling pen patented by E.O.Richter (c1841 - 1907) which is used for drawing dotted lines against  a rule. The pattern of the dots can be changed by adapting different pattern wheels to the mechanism. This set is complete with four pattern wheels. ( Ref: WWW.CollectingME.com)

Update 29th March 2018

​David Riches from www.mathsinstruments.me.uk has provided additional information on several items that I was not familiar with :

​" ​Firstly the dotting pens -  the one on the left is for placing in a compass. It needs to be fitted with two wheels. The one that looks like an ordinary gear wheel is the driving wheel, which, when making contact with the paper rotates and thus rotates the pattern wheel which lifts the pen on and off the paper. The other, right hand, one is for drawing straight dotted lines against a ruler. Again two wheels need to be fitted, one to drive the other but in this case the driving wheel is actually run on top of the rule with the base of the instrument bearing on the edge of the rule. Normally these pens were supplied with a driving wheel and either three or six different pattern wheels although more patterns of dotted line were available as extras.

I have not got a spacing parallel rule of the type in the set although it is a standard German pattern. However I have tried other types of spacing parallel rule that I have in my collection. 

The little " serrated" instrument in the middle left is called, in German, a Millimeterstetcher and I think is for pricking out millimeters and centimeters."

​Thanks David