RELAY/RICOH IMAGE ARCHIVE: PART 2
Above we see a scan of the back of a pocket 4 inch rule. This is one of the rules using the odd "1957 catalog" numbering system. Note the two stars on either side of the "Relay" name, and the usual date code at right. Another rule, a B-506, lacks the date code and the "Made in Japan". Thus far, rules in this series are uncommon.
At left, the two basic different styles of cursor bars found on R/R rules. The upper rule, a 1959 150, has the "straight" type, while the lower rule, a 1962 153, has the "rounded" type. From the date codes I personally have, which are many, it seems the change from straight to rounded bars occurred in 1961, or thereabouts. There are exceptions, as I own a Relay 551, 1960 date code, with rounded bars. It may be that the 551's NEVER used straight bars, as I've never seen one. Note also the different "glass" widths, with the older rule having a slightly wider lens. While interesting, the cursor bar types provide a more ready way to date a rule.
Another thing to keep in mind when considering cursor bars is that some were made of a slighty darker material. This goes not only for very late rounded types, but for very early straight types too. Recall from the first image page the "Relay" marked straight 1953 bar? It is in fact darker than most others. Late rounded ones can be almost tan. No date info on these as yet, stay tuned.
At left, we have two scans of rules to show a super neat feature on some R/R rules: EXTENDED END BRACE SCREWS TO ALLOW DESK USE! At any rate, they allow you to put the rule down without scratching up the cursor! Note that the RIGHT rule in the scan (and this was indeed done with a scanner) has a short end screw, flush with the end brace on its bottom end. (In the scan, screw heads are to your right, ends to your left.) This "flush screw" type is the same 1962 153 as seen in the cursor scan above. The LEFT rule is an S.I.C. 1530, dated 1961 on its edge. Note that its brace screw is longer, to match the length of the rivets used at the other end. The old "short screw" rules can be safely used/put down on one side, but not the other. The longer screw makes this possible on both sides. The S.I.C rules may have introduced this feature as well, ( at least in the U.S.)  because most other "long screw" rules are '64 and '65 dated. Late HEMMI rules have thicker end braces and longer screws for the same purpose, but I believe the R/R types pre-date the HEMMI rules.
    One very confusing thing about 10 inch duplex Relay/Ricoh rules, especially considering all of the custom made rules marketed in the US, is just exactly what bodies were there, and which rules were made on which of those bodies? Well, there is an easy way to keep track of them, and that is by WIDTH. There are, so far as I can find, only 3 basic body widths to consider in the 10 inch duplex rules, and it is the LENGTHS in those 3 basic widths that vary. We will show them in order of size, widest to narrowest, though not by age!
     At left, we see representative models of the 3 width categories. At top, the widest body at 1 7/8 inches. 157's ( and all re-branded types such as the one seen here) are 13 1/4 inches long, and the 151 is the same width, but is 13 15/16 inches long. The PICKETT B-1 is on the 151 body, while the Dietzgen B-1734 and B-1725 are on the 157 length body. So for this width, we have 2 basic lengths. Same exact stator and slide widths, same total body width, two different total lengths. So far as I know, all 151's 1960-72 used this body, and I'd bet all 157's did too, in both scale variants. The 158 may have used this width, but I don't know.
     The next rule represents the second basic width group. These rules are 1 5/8 inches wide. Many, many US rules fall into the first sub-group of this basic length. This sub-group, at 12 9/16 inches long, includes the 154 (seen at left), Dietzgen 1737, SIC 1530 and 1530-A, and all late 150's and re-brandings thereof (which is LOTS of rules!!) Date codes for this group run from 1961 through 1972. The only other sub group length of this width is the 252, at 12 7/16 inches, and is unique for its equal length stators.
     The last of the 3 basic widths is 1 9/16 inches wide. Only 1/16 inch narrower than the above group. This is in fact the OLDEST width body I have seen. Three lengths are known. A 1953 150 is 12 11/16 inches, a 1959 150 is 12 5/8 inches, while the 153 seen at left is 12 13/16 inches. The 153 shown, it should be noted, is the latest Relay rule I have , at 1962. It's also the latest code I have for this width.This width group differs from that above ONLY in having a slide 1/16 inch narrower. Same stator width. The above width group was probably an evolution of this one, and from date codes I'd bet they changed it around 1961-62. So these last two are related, in that some rule types changed body widths during their production runs.
     So, 3 basic widths. Two lengths in the first group, two in the second, and three in the third. Simple, eh? With this info, we can see that the 150 was actually technically on 3 different bodies during it's production. Strange but true.