Originally Posted by
country gent
With the dowel pins a 1" length or slightly longer gives enough to hold on to and measure easily. another trick is to coat 1/2" of one end in epoxy or a rubber material, even tygon or rubber tubing can be cut and pressed on this gives a nice "grip" to hold with, makes you measure the same end every time, and insulates the pin from oils acids in your skin along with body heat.
Starret and federal had digital mikes out for many years but they weren't electric but were mechanicals. three wheels were in the frame and geared to the thimble. Federal also had an Indicating mike that had a indicator tied to the anvil these could be set to a dimension and variations read on the indicator.
I have mostly browne and Sharp measuring tools. Michrometers are from 0-6" carbide faces slant lines and friction thimbles. But also have some starret mitoyo and others. My Mitoyo mikes are digital and read to 50 millionths (.00005) of an inch 0-1 and 1-2. On mikes unless used in a production line environment most will be good thru 3-4 owners LOL. My complaint with the electric digitals is it seems the batterys are always dying