Release date: 13.02.2023 16:30:48
Updated: 02/13/2023 16:29:59
The LS Starrett Museum on Athol Crescent Street is a capsule of the company's past. The museum is housed in Jerry's Textile Machine Shop, which was purchased by LS Starrett in 1942 along with five acres of land.
The museum itself was created. Among the items on display is LaRoy Starrett's first invention, a meat grinder that Starrett first brought to Athol from Newburyport after Athol Machinery agreed to manufacture the invention, according to the 2018 edition of Starrett's History.
Another early Starrett piece on display at the museum is the Moving Head Combo Square. Tractors are measuring tools used in metalworking, woodworking and masonry. The combination square was manufactured in 1877 by the Richardson Machine Company, which, according to Starrett's story, was purchased by the Starrett Company. According to Scott Robinson, who works in technical support at the factory, before this innovation, the squares were fixed.
Starrett micrometers, measuring instruments used in engineering, machining and other mechanical trades are also available in the museum. According to Starrett's story, Laroy Starrett invented this device, giving it a cleaner look, more responsive tuning, and faster tuning.
Many of the Starrett micrometers on display were involved in important events in world history. These include the Starrett meter that went to the South Pole with Admiral Byrd and another meter that was brought back to the atoll by a soldier returning from World War II. The inscription on the instrument reads: “Micrometers damaged by Japanese bombing. Test with Starrett Cat #4365 US maintenance units. He came with our boy who gave it to Starrett. Laroy Starrett patented nearly 100 inventions during his lifetime, including shoelaces and a number of machine tools.
The museum also preserves the social life of Starrett's employees. The flag of women's drag winners in 1947-1948-1949 hangs on the wall. The banner can be seen at Starrett's annual field days and picnics for Packard Heights Orange employees, said Joel Shaughnessy, director of Starrett's human resources and retirement office. The museum has a plaque with a series of photographs from the excursion.
Now the museum has an online catalog of museum items. The collection can be viewed at catalogit.app by typing Starrett Museum into the search box.
The company continues to service the use of Starrett equipment. "We get calls like, 'I have my grandfather's World War II micrometer that he used to work on his P51 Mustang,'" says Robinson. They have to.
Carla Charter is a freelance writer from Phillipston. His writings focus on the history of the Northern Kubin region. Contact them at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net.
