Did anyone save any of the many discussions of the "Gaddy spring" or the original description of the overhead suspension technique which Dr. Gaddy suggested? I've got a hardcopy of one of Gaddy's posts to a similar thread but no computer file. Without getting into the useful spring on the inner rod (maintains anvil contact with barrel wall), I'll provide the brief hint that the rec for use by the late Dr. Oscar Gaddy was a hook, cord, or chain on the yoke of the gauge for attachment to a screweye in an overhead joist, beam, door jamb or similar such that the gauge is freely suspended, barrel or barrelset handheld vertically and run up and down on the inner rod. I think it was Chuck H. who suggested that all steels have about the same deflection; i.e., mild steel round bar or "smith rod" will deflect no more than drill rod given the same section or diameter. There are variants with heavy external posts (large section iron pipe) which reduce deflection but the stiffness of the internal post is limited by the diameter which will fit thru customary choking of the various gauges. Chuck considered fabricating with carbon fiber composite rods to increase rigidity; I don't know the result of that project. bradhe, I think in the next couple days you'll get some descriptions of homebrewed WT gauges and perhaps some photos of gauges which incorporate the "Gaddy modification". I'll try to post a photo of mine in a few minutes.
jack
