scribing block

noun

scribing block

noun

1

Arts, Crafts, Engineering, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Metallurgy, Metalworking, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A device for scribing (marking) lines at a specific height from the base of an object, prior to machining.

A scribing block is seldom dispensed with in the amateur's workshop, excepting in cases where its very existence is unknown.1883 July, “Surface Gauges or Scribing Blocks”, in Amateur Mechanics, page 213:
By testing various parts of a line with the scribing block let the boys see that the line drawn is parallel to the surface plate.1903, J. S. Miller, Teacher's Handbook of Manual Training: Metal Work, page 29:

1 more example

The operation is to move the scribing block from end to end of the work and on both sides of it, packing it up until the upper surface is level, taking care, if the work does not lie level and steady upon the table, to insert wedges in the necessary places so that the work will lie firmly and not move during the operation of marking.2013, Joshua Rose, The Complete Practical Machinist, page 322:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.