Thank you each and all for your info and response's. The real reason I have to admitt for going with a digital was ease of reading. My stainless dail one was given to me by a friend who operated a machine shop, while on routine patrol one evening. They were missing the plastic dial cover at the time, but I assume were not cheap new and have given good serivce. I'd like to compare them with a known objects demensions to check accuracy. Yep Pettifogger, have bought things in the past and when batteries need replacing, they cost more than the original item, wary on those deals. Yes Sir, Delmonico, sometimes the simpler roads and ways are just as good, sometimes better. Went to school when in classes ya figured things out with a slide rule and not a calculator, although I won't go back to one. Used a plastic caliper for a number of years untill a freebe dial one came along. (as a side note to ya, bet my baked beans and chili could win a purple ribbon and get a nod of approval from ya). And Mako, always since I've been logging on to the Cas Forum, have always enjoyed your posts/replys, always have learned a great deal of knowledge that some how has escaped me over the years, even like your long ones. Thanks for the 'Caliper 101' class, didn't know all of the "in's and out's" about calipers, knew how to use them, but not the real inner workings. Thanks much. Quess I'll keep looking into the digital deal. Good hearing from each of ya, thanks much.