Vintage tape measures

[Old Radar]

Picked up this Stanley H1260 this weekend. Need to clean it up and lube it as it sticks a bit.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I love the black finish (See #118, page 6), and the wings are cool.

 

[lardy1]

Here's my entry. While the Lufkin rule doesn't qualify, I threw it in because it's kinda old & interesting, plus, it was manufactured just a few short miles from me.

The green tin covered is unbranded. Looks barely usedand really not particularly interesting.

The leather-bound one is my favorite. George M. Eddy Co. Brooklyn NY. It has a bit of crush damage and pulls hard. I don't force it or play with it because I will probably completely destroy it if I do. I've never ran it out over a couple inches then back in. That's how I found it.

I'm going to research George M. Eddy.












A link to a late 1800's catalog.

https://archive.org/details/GeorgeMEddyAndCo1891

 

[RTM]

I'm going to research George M. Eddy.

A link to a late 1800's catalog.

https://archive.org/details/GeorgeMEddyAndCo1891

Little jump start for you:


Work City Brooklyn
Work State NY
Work From 1869
Work To 1910
This company made various types of measuring tapes for surveyors, tailors, carpenters, etc. One such tape has a 13 July 1869 patent date

 

[lardy1]

Thank you for that.

 

[1930artdeco]

Hi All,

I just found this at an antique store, a 50ft made in Western Germany. Any one know who made it or when it was made? The first three feet at backed in a nice leather that has no wear marks.

Mike

 

[Mintgrun]

I picked up this fifty foot Starrett tape recently.


The little button in the center of the back makes the handle pop open when you push it.

It has a neat little flip out pin on the link at the end of the tape. I looked up this model number and not all of them had that feature.

 

[GalaxyRat]

Here's my new 50' Craftsman from the Heritage Era.

Sent from my SM-G973U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[didit]

Here are a few that were at hand. A 50' Lufkin, 2 USA made 6', one is a Evans and the other unknown (labeling is worn) and a 6' German made Favorit made by Mollinex.

 

[ScreechAwl]

I dug these out of my tool box. The Stanley is obviously the newest. The wood-cased one is my favorite and is a K & E. Both the Zippo (old logo) and the K & E are only 6 foot.

 

[outofbounds]

A couple that surfaced at a recent estate sale.

 

[Old Radar]

Picked up this 6' Walsco Mechanics Pal today. Although it has worn off in the front, the back seems to be blued.

 

[Username already in use]

Some neat old tapes. Keep 'em coming!

I broke my contemporary 100' Lufkin several days ago. I looked at refills for it, but at $25 for the refill, I knew I could do better.

If the flea markets were open, I'd have just hunted for one from there. But drastic times pushed me to the auction site.

For less than the cost (shipped) of the Lufkin refill, I was able to get this 100' Evans, with protective case AND box!

I don't know if it's New in Box, or just lightly used, but I like it!

Here's an interesting label on the back of the box:

Hmmmm, okay, let's give it a try:

Makes its own display stand using the protective case and box.

 

[Old Radar]

Nice! I picked up an Evans 75' last month. I like the little toggle pin on the end. You should post yours and the display box on the ephemera thread.

 

[ichabod]

a couple of small round tapes

 

[Trapps]

A Lufkin W9310 and Craftsman 39121.

No idea how old the are, I inherited them from my grandfather:

They live in the back of the drawer and are rarely used.

 

[Old Radar]

Found this Lufkin No. 688, 8' tape branded for Wizard--Western Auto's top of the line brand from 1940 onward. Shined up nicely! The tape is in excellent condition. It only has inch markings--all the way out to 96 inches with no foot indicators.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm curious how are you making a Western Auto connection, Old Radar? "Wizard" is a fairly common name and branding convention, even just within the tools world. I have a Lufkin "Wizard Junior". That's a 6 foot No. 1686. The patent is from 1934, by the way. EDIT: See post #118 on page 6 for more.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Quick follow...

It looks like "Wizard" is one of several brand names Lufkin has been using since the 1930's, including also "Leader", "Challenge", "Anchor," and "Mezurall". Found numerous ads in trade mags from the 1930's and 1940's, and it's in my 1947 Lufkin Catalog.

 

[Old Radar]

I'm curious how are you making a Western Auto connection, Old Radar? "Wizard" is a fairly common name and branding convention, even just within the tools world. I have a Lufkin "Wizard Junior". That's a 6 foot No. 1686. The patent is from 1934, by the way. EDIT: See post #118 on page 6 for more.

Quick follow...

It looks like "Wizard" is one of several brand names Lufkin has been using since the 1930's, including also "Leader", "Challenge", "Anchor," and "Mezurall". Found numerous ads in trade mags from the 1930's and 1940's, and it's in my 1947 Lufkin Catalog.

Apparently it's a case of adding 2 + 2 and coming up with 5. At the sale where I picked it up, I also got a Wizard 9" breaker bar. It's just to the left of the tape measure in the photo. I made the big leap that the guy frequented Western Auto because they had a Wizard line of tools. I ASSumed it was of that line or a promo for that line. There is, however, no arguing with your documentation! Nice catch!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well, you seemed so sure and declarative, my question was more curiosity than challenge! I was wondering if I was missing something! But all's well that ends well. And it was a good prod to do some research and a reminder that I had the catalog.

 

[bonneyman]

Found this Lufkin No. 688, 8' tape branded for Wizard--Western Auto's top of the line brand from 1940 onward. Shined up nicely! The tape is in excellent condition. It only has inch markings--all the way out to 96 inches with no foot indicators.

Dang, the chrome on that is really nice.

 

[Indyducati]

Folk, forgive me if this is inappropriate... I've got an old, really nice Lufkin 50' case. It's missing the tape. Is it possible to buy the tape and respool ?

 

[Username already in use]

Probably. You just need to know the width of the tape and the length. Lurking sells refills or you could try to find a nice vintage refill.
Or just buy several more vintage tapes and post them here.

 

[Old Radar]

This is my first POWR-KRAFT. Resplendent in Montgomery-Ward Blue.

I just can't seem to pass up these tape measures! Although, since it's in outstanding condition and was only a buck, how could I?

 

[bonneyman]

This is my first POWR-KRAFT. Resplendent in Montgomery-Ward Blue.

I just can't seem to pass up these tape measures! Although, since it's in outstanding condition and was only a buck, how could I?

Shoot, that'll do!

 

[Username already in use]

That’s a nice one. Should be cross posted over to the Powr Kraft thread too!

 

[Provincial]

I found this little Lufkin No. 1688 "Wizard Junior" tape last weekend. It was so cute that I couldn't resist!

 

[Oldsoul]

Here's mine. Just got to put new leather on it the old rotted off.

 

[Oldsoul]

There she is! Just got to put new leather on her the old rotted off.

 

[Oldsoul]

Did i post that twice i tarted out sorry guys.

 

[d42jeep]

I spotted this last Friday at a Tahoe garage sale. The price was a little too high so I left it until Saturday, went back and offered half the asking price which was accepted. It took some work to get rid of the tape residue.
-Don

 

[Old Radar]

Nice work, Don! Wonder when the last time a state highway division contracted for a labeled tape measure. I can't read the back--is it 100'? Steel or cloth tape?

 

[3rdgenplumber]

Here’s my tape that was my grandpas

 

[d42jeep]

Nice work, Don! Wonder when the last time a state highway division contracted for a labeled tape measure. I can't read the back--is it 100'? Steel or cloth tape?

It’s 100’ cloth and in pretty good shape. Maybe used for surveying?
-Don

 

[ttpete]

It’s 100’ cloth and in pretty good shape. Maybe used for surveying?
-Don

Never cloth for surveying. They use a special steel tape that's calibrated and certified.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for the info. What I don’t know about surveying could fill a book.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Never cloth for surveying. They use a special steel tape that's calibrated and certified.

Interesting. Maybe that’s true today, but we’re in the vintage tape measure thread.

I previously posted this woven 50’ Lufkin that measures in 10ths of a foot. Apparently an Engineer’s tape measure.

 

[RTM]

Looking thru the Lufkin catalogs, they refer to “uses where steel Tape accuracy isn’t required” Like maintenance workers (fixing a road, laying out a road, I dunno) can benefit from a lower cost tape. I don’t see that one anywhere, but it looks on the newer end of the spectrum

https://archive.org/details/internationaltoolcataloglibrary?and[]=Lufkin&sin=&sort=-date

 

[gpw_42]

Don, that CA Highway tape is pretty cool, even if it's not my cup o' tea. Do you get much use from it, or just satisfaction of owning?