I suppose that would give you the basics, but unless your maps are all to the 1" = 100' scale, it would be a real pain to use a regular ruler.  Trying to do all of those conversions in your head, or on a calculator, would be especially difficult when you are trying to decipher a complex legal description written in chains and rods.  And, if you have an odd scale, such as 1"=330' (or 660'), it would even worse.

Best to get the proper engineering scales.  The compass and protractor you could probably pick up anywhere, though.  I have never seen any of those to the scale we use anyway.  Who knows, someone might make them... somewhere.

Best,
Robert A. Franco
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