National Tape Measure Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

On July 14, National Tape Measure Day, it’s a wonderful time to pull out your tape measure, purchase a new one for your toolbox, or give one as a present! We are aware that you have a tape measure tucked away in your toolbox or waste drawer. They are ubiquitous because they are universally essential! Whether you need a tape measure for your job as a seamstress or construction worker or simply to determine if your sofa will fit in your living room, you will need one.

The background of National Tape Measure Day

In some form, the indispensable instrument for so many professions and duties, from building a house to measuring an inseam, has existed for centuries. Even ancient peoples had to occasionally measure or sketch straight lines! Some of the earliest depictions of rulers or tape measures date back to 2650 B.C., and there is evidence that rulers were utilised in industries during this time period.

Although humans have been measuring for centuries, the modern ruler did not appear until the 1800s, when James Chesterman invented the first steel tape measure in 1821. Chesterman, a craftsman from Sheffield, England, worked in the fashion industry and devised long steel tape measures as an unintended byproduct of the metal hoops he made for dress skirts. Chesterman lined the tapes with graduated markings and marketed them as lightweight, compact ‘Steel Band Measuring Chains’ in an effort to generate additional revenue by selling them to surveyors.

Other measuring devices subsequently followed. In 1851, Anton Ulrich invented the folding ruler, which consisted of six rulers piled on top of one another and connected by pivoting hinges. The tape measure devised by Chesterman was later improved by Alvin J. Fellows, an American inventor who patented the first spring measuring tape — essentially identical to the one we use today. His measuring tape was also encapsulated in the small circular container, and he added a familiar locking mechanism when extended.

In the 1870s, Justus Roe & Sons began manufacturing and selling tape measures in the United States, and their popularity gradually grew, particularly among those whose jobs required measuring. It wasn’t until the 1940s, however, that tape measures were used by the majority of the population. In the past 50 years, tape measures have become primarily made of fibreglass and can be found in most people’s junk drawers; they are now a common and functional household item!

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NATIONAL TAPE MEASURE DAY ACTIVITIES

Buy a new measuring yardstick.

It’s not the most exciting purchase you’ll make all week, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most useful. A tape measure is one of those items you don’t consider until you need one! Make it a crucial component of your toolkit to save yourself difficulty in the future.

Donate a tape measure as a present.

Especially if an acquaintance or relative is moving, redecorating, or uses measurements frequently for work, a new tape measure would be useful. These pocket-sized instruments make excellent little presents, and you can be assured that no one else will give them one.

Get the measuring tape out of the trash drawer.

What better day is there to initiate a project? Whether you intend to build a deck or table, or simply wish to redecorate, the tape measure is your best ally. Get it out of the discard pile and functioning!

5 Interesting Facts About Tape Measure

In the early 1820s, when James Chesterman invented the tape measure, it was a byproduct of his primary business, which was fabricating flat wire for crinoline hoop skirts.

If you’ve ever seen a tape measure marked every 19.2 inches, it’s because this length is commonly used for floor trusses and is denoted by a black diamond on some tape measures.

The two most common varieties of tape measures today are long tapes, which measure more than 40 feet, and short tapes, which measure less.

Since 1820, when the first steel tape measures were sold, there have been many advancements in their construction. In 1968, fibreglass tape measures were introduced to the U.S. market, and since then, the majority of tape measures have been made of fibreglass (though some remain steel).

As with much of today’s technology, tape measures exist in digital format! Occasionally, they employ laser technology to finalise their measurements.

NATIONAL TAPE MEASURE DAY DATES