I think this would fit on the "engineering" side of things. I like to measure things. I used to have a really nice personal weather station (damn, I wish I'd kept it!), I like full gauges in my cars regardless of level of appliance.
I've been able to pick up some stuff to measure things in the last year at really good deals.
I've had the vernier caliper for years. I'm not even sure where I got it, but I'm pretty sure that it was free. I got a Starrett 0-1" micrometer at the same time that's not in the photo. I've got, I think, an old Lufkin 2-3" micrometer in a box somewhere too that I acquired in the past year or two.
When I got the Starrett 12" dial caliper, I realized that I had to get a 6" because a dial caliper is so much easier to read than the vernier. I bought the Sears because I didn't think I'd be able to get a Starrett at a reasonable price, and then bam, 6" Starrett at a reasonable price. And both of the Starretts are "good ones" (made in USA).
I'd never heard of Brown & Sharp, so bought one of those just because. Starrett 0-1" micrometer, just because it was so cheap, came with a standard, and has a patent date from 1897.
I just got the "The Executive Pocket Chum" in the mail today. There have been times when I needed something from the hardware store, but taking the 6" caliper was a pain. The pocket chum (would probably be a very different product with a name like that if it was sold today) will be great for that sort of thing.
