I know some spring height mics don't properly seat with a beehive spring and will give a false tall reading.

 

...and now, the rest of the story...

Looking at the checker last night, the graduations are almost 1/8" per (1.800 > 1.900 for example). The measurement was almost two graduations off. This would be physically impossible.



When in doubt, read the directions!! (IF you can locate them)



The note on the bottom was a reminder to me from the first time, when the figures didn't add up, either. I believe that the large difference threw me off.
The checker is actually made to accommodate a stepped hat. My hat & beehive fit perfectly in to the checker. Therefore I must compensate by .150.
96caprice & Sherrod mentioned this.





All is well...the actual readings are between 1.812 > 1.820. Those .060 shims I have will bring the corrected level down into the proper range.

Thanks to all for your wisdom. I've learned a few more things, and didn't embarrass myself at the machine shop.
I am one happy camper.

 

Interesting. I couldn't find instructions like that for my micrometer. Like yours, my beehive retainer fit down inside. I put an .060" shim on top of the micrometer, and set the retainer on top of that. Then I added 0.060" to all the measurements.

 

Exactly why I asked for a picture.

 

Bob, I didn't get instructions with the unit. They were found later, on the internet. The .150 compensation was realized after reading an obscure thread, somewhere.