<p>That looks like a pantograph. Used to enlarge or reduce drawings by tracing the original.</p>

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantograph" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantograph</a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/53Ydy.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/53Ydy.jpg" alt="https://i.sstatic.net/53Ydy.jpg"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-01T11:14:01.073Z
2020-02-01T11:14:01.073Z
Aaron K
<p>I think you might be looking for some variant of a <strong>double try square</strong>.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Try_square" rel="nofollow noreferrer">try square</a> is:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>a woodworking or a metal working tool used for marking and measuring a piece of wood. The square refers to the tool's primary use of measuring the accuracy of a right angle (90 degrees); to try a surface is to check its straightness or correspondence to an adjoining surface.</p>
<p>[...]</p>
<p>A traditional try square has a broad blade made of steel that is riveted to a wooden handle or &quot;stock&quot;. The inside of the wooden stock usually has a brass strip fixed to it to reduce wear. Some blades also have graduations for measurement. Modern try squares may be all-metal, with stocks that are either die-cast or extruded.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I haven't been able to find a picture of a <em>double</em> try square, with two L-shapes linked together, as you're looking for, but here are various images of single try squares taken from <a href="http://www.jonzimmersantiquetools.com/tools/measlist.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/LZOdWm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LZOdWm.jpg" alt="with handle" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UakV4m.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UakV4m.jpg" alt="many" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/8glvSm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8glvSm.jpg" alt="metal" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0k5PVm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0k5PVm.jpg" alt="bevel" /></a></p>
<p>The second of these is called a <strong>framing square</strong> and the third a <strong>bevel square</strong>.</p>
<p>A <strong>machinist square</strong> is the all-metal equivalent of a try square. From <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machinist_square" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A machinist square or engineer's square is the metalworkers' equivalent of a try square. It consists of a steel blade inserted and either welded or pinned into a heavier body at an angle of 90°.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>More pictures, from various sources:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/zOBbbm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/zOBbbm.jpg" alt="with handles" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/dKkbzm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dKkbzm.jpg" alt="many" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/x16Sw.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/x16Sw.jpg" alt="two together" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/lX2AGm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lX2AGm.jpg" alt="one fancy, one simple" /></a></p>
<p>Hopefully at least some of these look similar to what you're hunting for, or at worst will give you some helpful search terms!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-19T00:57:14.297Z
2016-08-19T00:57:14.297Z
2020-06-18T08:35:49.040Z
Rand al'Thor
<p>I think what you have is an adjustable viewfinder, a tool used by artists to help frame a scene.</p>

<p>By sliding the arms along the guides you are able adjust the view of the scene you are trying to capture.</p>

<p>Helps the artist to learn how to control the content, design and layout of an image.</p>

<p>Here's an example from the Derwent company. </p>

<p>[<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Fzm30.jpg" alt="DERWENT DRAWING TOOL[1]"></p>

<p>Here's an example of someone using their fingers.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/1y5Dd.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1y5Dd.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-19T01:46:39.087Z
2016-08-19T01:46:39.087Z
John Vukelic
<p>I am trying to find a tool I had a long time ago. Uses probably range from locating to measuring. Could be used for anything really, drawing to wood carving.</p>

<p>The device is expandable. In its initial position it would look almost like a + ; when fully expanded it would look like a square. Basically it is two pieces of L-shaped metal that slide, but are joined with two sliding rivets:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/64dTv.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/64dTv.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>(red represents the sliding rivets and the left image represents fully closed, while the right represents an expanded state)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T22:34:40.537Z
Welcome, Derek! Do you own one of these or are you trying to find one of them? If you own it, please include an image of the tool and explain what you think it might be used for... for example, if you think it relates to wood carving.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T23:30:10.170Z
I am trying to find one, I had one a long time ago. Uses probably range from locating to measuring. Could be used for anything really drawing to wood carving. I added a picture to my post; red represents the sliding rivets and the left image represents fully closed, while the right represents an expanded state.
Derek M
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-19T00:05:03.770Z
Ah, interesting. Presumably it can make rectangles in addition to squares by moving them asymmetrically along the bars?
Catija
<tool-identification>
What is the name of this sliding collapsing square tool?
Derek M
# What is the name of this sliding collapsing square tool?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-18)

I am trying to find a tool I had a long time ago. Uses probably range from locating to measuring. Could be used for anything really, drawing to wood carving.

The device is expandable. In its initial position it would look almost like a + ; when fully expanded it would look like a square. Basically it is two pieces of L-shaped metal that slide, but are joined with two sliding rivets:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/64dTv.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/64dTv.png)

(red represents the sliding rivets and the left image represents fully closed, while the right represents an expanded state)

**Tags:** tool-identification

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome, username_0! Do you own one of these or are you trying to find one of them? If you own it, please include an image of the tool and explain what you think it might be used for... for example, if you think it relates to wood carving.  
> **username_0**: I am trying to find one, I had one a long time ago. Uses probably range from locating to measuring. Could be used for anything really drawing to wood carving. I added a picture to my post; red represents the sliding rivets and the left image represents fully closed, while the right represents an expanded state.  
> **username_1**: Ah, interesting. Presumably it can make rectangles in addition to squares by moving them asymmetrically along the bars?  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-08-19. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

I think what you have is an adjustable viewfinder, a tool used by artists to help frame a scene.

By sliding the arms along the guides you are able adjust the view of the scene you are trying to capture.

Helps the artist to learn how to control the content, design and layout of an image.

Here's an example from the Derwent company.

[![DERWENT DRAWING TOOL[1]](https://i.sstatic.net/Fzm30.jpg)

Here's an example of someone using their fingers.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/1y5Dd.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/1y5Dd.jpg)


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-02-01. Score: 0

That looks like a pantograph. Used to enlarge or reduce drawings by tracing the original.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantograph>

[![https://i.sstatic.net/53Ydy.jpg](https://i.sstatic.net/53Ydy.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/53Ydy.jpg)


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-08-19. Score: -1

I think you might be looking for some variant of a **double try square**.

A [try square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Try_square) is:

> a woodworking or a metal working tool used for marking and measuring a piece of wood. The square refers to the tool's primary use of measuring the accuracy of a right angle (90 degrees); to try a surface is to check its straightness or correspondence to an adjoining surface.
>
> [...]
>
> A traditional try square has a broad blade made of steel that is riveted to a wooden handle or "stock". The inside of the wooden stock usually has a brass strip fixed to it to reduce wear. Some blades also have graduations for measurement. Modern try squares may be all-metal, with stocks that are either die-cast or extruded.

I haven't been able to find a picture of a *double* try square, with two L-shapes linked together, as you're looking for, but here are various images of single try squares taken from [here](http://www.jonzimmersantiquetools.com/tools/measlist.html):

[![with handle](https://i.sstatic.net/LZOdWm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/LZOdWm.jpg)
[![many](https://i.sstatic.net/UakV4m.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/UakV4m.jpg)
[![metal](https://i.sstatic.net/8glvSm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/8glvSm.jpg)
[![bevel](https://i.sstatic.net/0k5PVm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/0k5PVm.jpg)

The second of these is called a **framing square** and the third a **bevel square**.

A **machinist square** is the all-metal equivalent of a try square. From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machinist_square):

> A machinist square or engineer's square is the metalworkers' equivalent of a try square. It consists of a steel blade inserted and either welded or pinned into a heavier body at an angle of 90°.

More pictures, from various sources:

[![with handles](https://i.sstatic.net/zOBbbm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/zOBbbm.jpg)
[![many](https://i.sstatic.net/dKkbzm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/dKkbzm.jpg)
[![two together](https://i.sstatic.net/x16Sw.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/x16Sw.jpg)
[![one fancy, one simple](https://i.sstatic.net/lX2AGm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/lX2AGm.jpg)

Hopefully at least some of these look similar to what you're hunting for, or at worst will give you some helpful search terms!


---

