One of the tools our crew is guaranteed to reach for most on-site is the humble tape measure. Regardless of whether you are a tradie or not, this little device can help you tackle all kinds of projects, from working out if your new couch will fit in your living room to hanging a picture frame.
In honour of National Tape Measure Day, here are some fun facts about Measuring Tapes; see how many of these you knew…
Their origin.
James Chesterman developed the tape measure in the early 1820s. It was a byproduct manufacturing flat wire for hoop skirts.
No one to help?
Most measuring tapes have a small slot on the end hook. If you don’t have anyone to hold the other end of the tape, you can hammer a nail or put in a screw to hook the end of the tape to get a precise measurement.
They’re no longer steel.
Since the first steel tape measures were sold in 1820, there have been many advancements in their material — fiberglass tape measures hit the U.S. market in 1968.
The Scribing Tool.
The end hook of your measuring tape has a serrated edge. If you don’t have a pencil handy, you can use this edge to make a mark by running it back and forth on whatever surface you’re measuring.
Tape measures have gone digital.
Tape measures exist in a digital format. They sometimes even employ technology like lasers to complete their measurements.
