Woolworth's and the 5 & Dime were the places I got the fabric for my 4-H sewing projects using those machines. Trying to find the "new" 45" material - so the clothing patterns had different yardage layouts for 36" and 45" material.
I remember the move it an inch forward and back, depending on whether the previous rip put the fabric way out of a straight line - the cheaper materials were not always woven evenly so they didn't tear straight. Then you would get home and have to straighten out the tears by pulling a thread and cutting along the pulled thread line. So much work!