While out riding this afternoon I spotted a die laying in the road. I wheeled around, picked it up and stuffed it in my jersey pocket. Being a machinist, I have interest in and use for such things as taps and dies.
I brought it into the garage and oiled it up and rubbed on it until I could read the information stamped on it.
U.S.F. (United States Form, an obsolete thread system)
3/8 (3/8" diameter)
40 (40 threads per inch, a Unified National Superfine series. That's a lot of threads per in for a screw this large in diameter)
But, the most interesting information stamped into the dies was the word Winter and a Flower Symbol.
I had never heard of a Winter tap or die in my 35 years in the business, but thanks to the internet I soon had my mystery die manufacturer's history from day one until the plant closed in 1948.
And one of the founders was a cyclist.
If you are interested, here is a good read on the Winter Bros. Company with lots of cool old pictures.
http://patandmeloakes.com/PatandMelOakesFamily/Oakes_Blog/Winter_Brothers_Tap_%26_Die.html
