Used Starrett Equipment Sold by Meadoworks

Laroy Sunderland Starrett founded the L.S. Starrett Company in 1880 in Athol, Massachusetts, where the corporate headquarters and primary manufacturing plant remain to this day. His original ambition was to invent something useful that people would want, and his first breakthrough was the world's first combination square. Over the following century the company expanded steadily, acquiring the Webber Gage Company in 1962 and granite-surface-plate maker Herman Stone Co. in 1970, while opening international manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Scotland, and China. Today Starrett produces more than 5,000 variations of precision tools, gages, and metrology systems for industrial and professional markets worldwide.

Starrett's precision measurement lineup spans two broad categories that define its reputation in machine shops and quality labs. Its machinist's levels — most notably the No. 98 series and the high-sensitivity No. 199 Master Precision Level — are built on precision-machined cast iron bases with graduated spirit vials and are the standard reference for leveling lathes, mills, and other machine tools. On the metrology side, Starrett Kinemetric Engineering, the company's dedicated metrology division, designs and manufactures a full range of optical comparators: benchtop horizontal models such as the HE400, HB400, and HD400; the vertical benchtop VB400; and floor-standing systems including the HF600, HF750, and HS600. These comparators pair precision optics and fiber-optic or LED illumination with MetLogix or Quadra-Chek digital readout systems, and many configurations support optional CNC control and automatic edge detection.

Starrett precision tools and comparators serve a broad cross-section of manufacturing industries. Metalworking has historically been the largest end market, accounting for the majority of the company's revenue, but Starrett equipment is equally at home in automotive, aerospace, aviation, marine, and medical device manufacturing environments. Quality control labs, tool-and-die shops, and production inspection departments across these sectors rely on Starrett levels and optical comparators for dimensional verification, part inspection, and machine alignment.

Used Starrett equipment commands consistent demand on the secondary market for several reasons. The company's machinist's levels and optical comparators are built from hardened steel, cast iron, and precision-ground components that retain their accuracy for decades when properly maintained, and replacement vials, lenses, and stage parts remain available. Older USA-made Starrett instruments in particular are prized by machinists who regard pre-acquisition-era tooling as benchmark quality. A used Starrett optical comparator or precision level typically delivers the same measurement performance as new at a fraction of the cost, making it an attractive choice for shops equipping inspection stations or expanding metrology capacity on a budget.

Meadoworks is your trusted source for used Starrett equipment. As third-generation industrial equipment dealers and AMEA-certified appraisers with over 50 years of experience, we offer quality-inspected Starrett machines at competitive prices. Most of our Starrett inventory sells before we can list it online — call 800-323-0307 for equipment not yet listed.

Every machine includes detailed specifications and high-resolution photos, and inspection visits are available for most equipment. We ship worldwide with experienced rigging partners and offer financing for qualified buyers. Have Starrett equipment to sell? Get a free valuation or contact our team.