Folding wooden ruler

[LCHIEN]

These used to be the way we measured stuff before moden tape measures. I n looked up the history of tape measures, the self retracting, coiled, erecting tape wit the lock button and riveted compensating tab did not come all together until 1963 or so.
before that my dad used this folding 6 ft wooden ruler that collapses to 7 inches long. Anyone used one of these?

[leehljp]

I did occasionally use one of my dad's, or even my mom's, but I never had my own. Your post made me think why I never had my own (that I can remember.) Mom had the roll up cloth type of rules that she used in sewing and dad had the folding rules, but as soon as the roll up self retracting type came out, dad started using them.

In general, until college, the things I measured were not larger than 3 ft or 4 ft, so I used a yard stick most of the time.

I do remember taking one engineering class (engineering drawing) and going to a store in Memphis to get some engineering drawing items and seeing a 4ft steel rule, and I bought one. I still have it to this day and use it (when I can find it). Since I made smaller things - 4ft and smaller, I used wooden yard sticks more often - until I got the 4ft steel rule.

Even after retracting rules came out, I continued to use my 4ft steel rule for a long time instead of them (retracting rules). I remember my dad getting several of the rules when they came out and always having one in his pocket, one or two in the house and one or two in the shop. He greatly appreciated them over the folding rules. However, Dad's use was on farm machinery such as plows and planter spacing, etc. where folding rules were bothersome in tight discombobulated places of farm equipment. My uncles who did more house building and woodworking projects preferred the folding rules. They always had one or two on hand.

I will say that I started using the tape rules about 20 - 25 years ago when they made better, longer and more dependable retractable tapes, but folding ones - I rarely used them, because they were not used so much around our house when I was growing up.

This is a good thread down memory lane!

[LCHIEN]

One of the comments I saw was that aside from having twice the capacity of a yardstick in 1/5 the size (pocketable) you could use it to measure inside dimensions that a yardstick would not fit.

[cwsmith]

My Dad and I used a couple of those when I was a teenager and I'm sure he probably used one for most of his early life.

I left mine behind when I got married back in 1967. As I recall, they were commonly referred to as a 'carpenters ruler', and my Dad said they were more accurate than a steel tape.

Both the rulers we used had a brass insert on only end that extended out about six inches and it was nice for measure small cuts, etc.

I wish I still had my old one, but I think by kid brother probably took use of it after I left.

CWS

[leehljp]

One of the comments I saw was that aside from having twice the capacity of a yardstick in 1/5 the size (pocketable) you could use it to measure inside dimensions that a yardstick would not fit.

That is correct for "some" inside dimensions. But when one has 12 spring loaded plows on a 4" square steel tube 12 -14 ft long, with bolts, clamps and steel in all kinds of places for a 4 row or 6 row setup - there is not much room to place a folding rule between each set. A form or a steel "story stick" works much better and you don't have to worry about breaking one when you accidentally hit a sharp edge or hot edge and jerk your hand out. The steel rod spacer (story stick) works much better. Dad would put hack saw cuts/marks on the rod at 1/2" spaces if adjustments needed to be made. With plow or planter boxes, spacing changed with different grains. Sometimes about the late 1960s, some engineers came up with much simpler adjustments for the different kinds of spacers, and by this time the recoil rules were in use big time.

Initially farm implement spacing were measured at the factory, but different grain/seed require different spacing when planting and plowing. Now a-days, many farms use different planters and plows for each grain and for harvesting, so adjustments are not as necessary. And many farmers in this area specialize in two of three grains (soy beans, rice or corn -corn grown for primarily as alcohol as a fuel additive). Cotton now requires specialized picker machines that cost about a million dollars apiece, and as a result quite a few farmers that I know do not grow cotton any more, and 30 years ago, that was the main farm product in our area.

[LCHIEN]

Curiosity got me. Checked against a steel rule... still quite accurate at about 70+ years old.



Even more interesting you can still buy these new, I see at least 5 models on Amazon that run from about $8 to $20. In fact, you can buy 2-pack for $10. For metric haters, the Lufkin/Crescent one is inches only on both sides.

[twistsol]

I still use one of these for almost everything in the shop. More accurate than a tape, more durable, and just plain easier to work with. Mine doesn't have any of those crazy inches on it though.

[Jim Frye]

Some years ago, I splurged for a Starrett SX40F folding rule. Do not use it much, but always wanted one. It has a sliding brass extension that works great for inside measurements.

[LCHIEN]

thanks for showing the brass sliding extension. I can see how that simplifies inside measurements. Mine does not have that; I read about it but have not actually seen one.

[cwsmith]

That is what I was referring to in my comment.

I couldn't remember the brand, but certainly Starrett makes sense as they were one of the most popular measuring tool brands of the time.

[d_meister]

I follow a few European YouTube carpenters and makers, and they all use the folding rules. I saw a couple of videos from one guy going to various tool and hardware shows, and he either buys or is gifted some. They're still something of an advertising vehicle in Europe, apparently.

[LCHIEN]

Saw $20 Lufkin/Crescent folding wooden ruler for sale today at Home Depot. People must still buy them.