What is it?
 

I got an email from a friend asking if I could help her i.d. a device, so naturally the QB was the first place I thought of!! am attaching the two pics she sent me, she's wondering what it is and once i.d.'d, is it complete? I don't have a clue and hope someone here can help!!! Thanks much!!

I don't think it's complete, as the two metal end rollers were designed to fit into some type of holder. Is the rectangular piece a magnet?

My best guess currently is that it was used to quickly measure a distance to shorten something -- draperies, skirts, jeans.

that was my first thought as well

It's from a typewriter. You flipped it up and it held the paper upright as you typed so you could read the page. I'm not sure what the lines measured.

For the typewriter, I bet it measured how much of the page was used so that you would know when to quit typing and move on to the next page.

Oh, my! To think that typewriters are obsolete........

But those of us that learned to type sure can appreciate the new key boards and how easy it is to type on them. My fingers could never use one of those old typewriters they no longer have the strength needed to push the key down.

I miss my typewriter - for some things the 'old' versions work better than the new -

two things I miss it for: addressing envelopes
making the labels for hanging folders

i will keep watching this thread. i want to know what it is also. i have no clue..

Can also be from a printer. The numbers were for spacing lines if I recall correctly. They also helped you make sure the paper was in straight.

Also...we used it to type labels and post cards, etc...again, helped keep the card in place.

bearisgray--I use my computer to do envelopes all the time. If you have Word installed, go to envelopes, find the size of your envelope and it will guide you through the process. Put the envelope in your printer and it prints out perfectly. I even put quilting clipart on the fronts of mine sometimes.

Thanks - I think I did know that there was a way to do it - I just didn't want to LEARN how to do it. :rolleyes:

Looking at it again, printer seems to make more sense. I'll tell Diki!!! Thanks everyone! I've done several google searches for images similar with no success.

A Donald/Daisy Duck foot sizer?