Device for comparing the dimensional proportions of tapered objects

A device for comparing the dimensions of at least two tapered objects, such as musical instrument reeds, each having opposed major surfaces and side edges extending in its elongated direction, comprising a substantially flat and smooth base member for slidably supporting a first object upon one of said first object's, major surfaces and for slidably supporting at least a second object upon said second object's corresponding major surface, a first thickness sensor and at least a second thickness sensor, extending towards said base member from predetermined, fixed positions on a member mounted on the device to be movable in a direction essentially perpendicular to said base member, so that the movement of either of said thickness sensors imparts a proportional movement movement through said movable member to the other thickness sensor, said thickness sensors always being substantially equidistant from said base member, first reference means on the device by which said first thickness sensor contacts said first object on a point along a longitudinal line on its surface and said second thickness sensor contacts said second object on a point along a line on its surface which is parallel to and corresponding to said longitudinal line on said first object, there being at least one such pair of corresponding lines, and second reference means on the device for comparing and measuring the longitudes of said tapered objects beyond points of equal thickness, as located by said thickness sensors.