Does anyone remember?
 

Just read a thread about cutting -vs- ripping fabric. Had a flashback after reading it. Our local 5 & 10 cent store had fabric in the basement. The way they measured it was to pull the fabric through this metal gizmo that was attached toand elevated a little above the counter. On the top of the gizmo was a gauge with numbered increments and a hand on it similar to a clock. The hand would spin and tell the clerk how much fabric had passed through it. When she got to the yardage requested, she'd pull down a lever that notched the fabric. If memory serves me right, she would either rip the fabric if it was light weight cotton, or use scissors if she was dealing with corduroy or the heavier fabrics.

Does any one else remember this? Any idea of what the gizmo was called?

I remember that machine, I wish they were still used. Here that machine was in Woolworth's and Fabric Bonanza- that I remember.

Yes I remember it, but I don't know what it was called

I remember them but do not know what it was called , a fabric meter maybe? They had one here when mom bought Frabric at one at JC penny's that I can remember

I remember them too,but don't have a clue what they're ccalled!

Aww I googled it a measuregraph!
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedi...suring-machine

Yes, I do remember, but I don't know what it was called. I always thought that this was a great way to measure fabric very accurately.

At least with it you get the exact amount of fabric not short on fabric when you got home.

We had one of those at our local fabric store, back in the day :-)

I remember them as well, but of course I was just a kid (cough cough)

Thanks for bringing this up. I haven't thought about those little machines in decades. I used to love watching them measuring fabric.....they were so entertaining. I guess that I'm simple-minded. Never knew that they had a name to them tho. And yes, I was a child when they were popular. No, really, I was a child!

My Mom worked in the fabric department of a local department store. She used one of those machines to measure fabric. I had to smile when you were describing the machine. It brought back lots of memories. I was a child then too and it was a small town where things for safe for kids to go around the shops.

Yes...I remember that machine too. Our Woolworths had one and so did J.C. Penney. When I was little...about 8 or 9...my friends and I would take our quarters to Penney's to buy 1/4 yd. of different fabrics. We thought we are so grown up. Then we would come home and start handsewing clothes for our dolls. We all had Muffie Dolls...remember them? We would use the gathering stitch at the top for a skirt or dress...hem the other 3 sides and put snaps on the back. For dresses we would attach small squares...one for the front and the other for the back. Put it on the doll and then figure how far up and then down the side seam we had to sew so her arms would go through them. We all had way too many "summer dresses" for our dolls. As we got older and had Barbie dolls we had to make those top squares a bit bigger...LOL.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

I remember them-I think they measured in inches-don't know what they were called. But they were great-doesn't seem it was THAT long ago they were still in use. I wonder if they still are at some places.

I remember those. When we had a Woolworth's they used this machine.

Yup. Sew-Fro Fabric had them when I was a kid. Our local Hancock's uses something like it on the table roller where they cut upholstery fabric.

I remember those. I was actually thinking about them the other day.

Yes, I remember them. I always doubted the accuracy. First of all, who knew how reliably they were calibrated? Secondly, if the fabric was not pulled through straight, but was pulled through in a wavy fashion, I felt I would be shortchanged (am I paranoid?). However, at least when the clerk was finished measuring, she/he could see the number of yards instead of trying to remember how many she had counted.

Dayle

I own one of those machines...it is called "trade mark" measuregraph! it still works great!

yep paranoid..it was VERY hard to mess up measuring with these machines..the fabric fit in so well..BUT they did away with them when poly became the norm...harder to pull through without stretching it, hard to rip, etc....sad...I would put my machine up against any clerk these days!

I was just talking to a lady at the LQS about this very thing over the weekend!!

I remember them at Penney's and at a local Dry Good store in Texas but didn't know what it was called. I do now thanks to UP North.

i remember it too. i wasn't aware that there was a name for it. i was just telling my local fabric shop manager about it last week. she's a few years younger than i am, and she doesn't even remember it.

what fun...thanks for sharing and thanks for the link.... it would have driven me crazy if i couldn't remember the name all weekend!!! the brown one is the version i remember... i seem to remember them usually asking "5 yds? Right?" before they would use the little cutter...... just in case they heard it wrong or you changed you mind before they cut the fabric...

I remember them too! The only problem with them was if you had any stretch to your fabric and it would short you.... The tension when pulling it through the machine stretched the fabric...

Some fabric stores could stand to use this machine. I ordered 7 yards of fabric and
was 10 inches short (I measured twice). I thought that was a bit much. I don't expect
anything extra even though some stores are quite generous when they measure but
give me the quantity I paid for darn it. Anyway, not sure if I want to place another
order with them. Good thing I always buy a little extra. Maybe they use a different
yard stick. Grrr.

Yes I do as well. Those were the days.

I was going to say the same thing. My Hancocks has one for upholstery fabric also.

Did you contact them and tell them? And what was the response?

Many years ago when I lived in northern New Jersey we had a fabric shop called the Rag Shop and they had those machines. Often wondered why they weren't in all fabric stores.

Oh my gosh some of the earliest memories I have regarding pretty fabric were based on my momma and me going to the local jc Penney store where they used one of those machines!!!!!!

I remember them too. I was fascinated by them. Boy, are we showing our age!!! Like fine wine, we just keep getting better! LOL

I remember them too. Wonder why they quit using them?

I remember that machine but I don't recall what it was called. Hancock Fabrics here in Cincinnati (the store no longer exists now) used to have one and they always tore the fabric instread of cutting as the manager said he didn't want to use up the scissors cutting fabric, he would rather sell them. This one gal at Hancock used to add a couple of inches (3+) for error sake before cutting and not charge for the extra inches. I also remember when the fabric was not square on the bolt, we used to take opposite corners of the fabric and stretch it when damp and press into shape before using/ Thanks for the reminder.

This brings back memories of my mom shopping a fabric stores. I didn't have too many store bought items. Mom made almost all of my clothes.

Well... theoretically. It's still possible to pull the fabric too taut and stretch it a bit going through the measuregraph. This is especially the case with stretch fabrics like lycra. Once they relax, they are shorter.

I loved seeing the old machine! Thank you to whoever found the photo...

My local JCPenney also had one and I remember being fascinated by that thing. It was so neat to watch the fabric being pulled through, making the dial spin. Then the lever that would make a little cut on the edge. Just fascinating! I can't imagine why fabric stores don't use that still.

I remember that also, I think it was in Ben Franklen store ( I know I did not spell that right) LOL
Jessie

OK, while we are remembering, do you remember that the salesgirl put you cash and the hand witten sales slip in a vacumn tube. The tube made a scary noise, when she opened the bottom door and sent the air shuttle on it's way. Soon a whir and a clunk anounced that your change was back. Montgomery Wards was the best..