Safe-T 41516 T-Square

Along its top edge, this 9-1/2" transparent orange plastic rectangular instrument has a scale of inches divided to 1/16" for four inches and to 1/10" for four inches and numbered by ones from 1 to 8. The bottom edge has a centimeter scale divided to millimeters and numbered by ones from 0 to 20. Two rectangular indentations running the length of the instrument have holes drilled every 1/2-inch for drawing vertical lines. The holes are numbered from 3-1/2" to 0" to 3-1/2".

A lip underneath the instrument's left end serves as a guide rail when the T-square is placed on the edge of a clipboard or drawing board. Unlike a conventional T-square, this object has no crosspiece. This was supposed to make it easier to use. A hole at the right end permits hanging or placement in a three-ring binder. The device is marked: VIEW THRU_TM; SAFE-T T-SQUARE®; SAFE-T PLASTIC®. It is also marked: Pat. (/) Pend. This patent was not identified.

Safe-T Products, Inc., of La Grange, Ill., was established in 1992 to sell drawing instruments that were safe for schoolchildren. In 1998 and 2000, Safe-T sold model 41516 for $1.95. In 2006, the company became a subsidiary of A. Daigger & Company and its name changed to Classroom Products Warehouse.

References: accession file; SAFE-T Products, Inc., Innovative Safe Drawing and Measuring Instruments, about 1998; Safe-T/Basics by Extra Measures, Inc., about 2000.

Currently not on view