I forgot but I now remember them too.......but didn't hey put a cut into the fabric so it could be ripped? calla

So, I am not the only person feeling old remembering this. Those were the days, and they ripped the fabric after going through the machine. I used to go shopping with my mom for fabric when I was a little girl, a bus trip, lunch at the diner downtown and shopping every Wednesday, until I started school.

When I was at Joanns yesterday, I asked the clerk why they don't get to use electric sissors to cut the fabric instead of regular sissors, she said it was an OSHA thing. It just looks so ackward to watch them cut fabric, and they do not give you any extra, inventory control.
But thanks for the memories.

I used one when I worked for T G & Y in the fabric dept. If you did not put the fabric in just right, or if you tugged on the double knits too much, you did not get an accurate measurement.

I too remember those measuring things, I remember when all department stores carried fabric. I was only sewing clothes for the most part then. I also remember the cotton those days were almost impossible to iron the wrinkles out. I loved the new wash and wear fabric I could buy and clothes. All cotton clothes got phased out quickly.

Oh my gosh. I remember T G & Y. I bought purple material for a shift in Home Ec. I had to rip that zipper out four times before my teacher passed it. No wonder I hate zippers.

I remember them too.

I worked at So-Fro and we had those machines. In the 70's they didn't measure the knit fabric accurately as it stretched going through the "wheels". We had to measure by the metal tape in the counter.

piney

Me too, in Mass.

I sure remember those machines. And, I remember when Penney's had fabric. In fact, I purchased the fabric (lace over satin, full length) for my wedding dress at Penney's on my lunch hour, at a grand cost of $23. Those were the days! (what days I'm not really sure! LOL).

Jeanette Frantz

I remember those! made a little cut then the fabric was torn!! those were also the days when the clerk had to get the patterns for you too. you didn't dare help yourself!

I learned to sew very young. My mom would let me sit at the counter and look thru the pattern books. I was occasionally allowed to pick out a pattern for a school dress. i remember some clerks were not too happy to have to get a pattern for a little girl. If they ignored me long enough I would get down and go behind the counter to get my own. That did not make them happy either!!

I remember the machine, too...after they tugged and pulled the fabric through, wasn't there a handle or something they pushed to put the first cut in ithe fabric? Maybe I'm thinkin' of some other machine????

I'd forgotten all about them. The ones I remember they pushed a lever that made a sort cut then they finished by ripping it.

I remember these well, hmm making me feel quite old :D

I remember these machines also in our small town. They stopped using them when we started to use knit fabric. When they ran the fabric thru it would strecth and you didn't get the correct amount of fabric. With color it would make cutting our fabric faster but then again it probably would be cut wrong

ROFL - I think I may have some of that fabric!!!

Yes - I remember those machines. Did they cut or rip the fabric after taking the little nip in it?

I remember! Our Joanns has one for upholstery fabric. It would cut a little slice where they were to start cutting.

They are still used in warehouses to count off the metres before sending the fabric to the retailers.

I to remember the machine when wards and penny's sold fabric they measured it msde a small cut and ripped the fabrix we also ripped the abric in home ec to straighten it now they cringe at the idea I think it all happened when polyester came out as it won't rip and cotton does sometimes I still straighten my fabric that way

Oh my gosh! Yes! There was a machine like that!!! I'd forgotten that totally!!

I think they might have stopped using them because a certain small amount of fabric was uncounted because the graph didn't start counting right at the cut end. Hense a small amount was not getting paid for. Here's something.....do you remember when there was one inch left on a bolt they would give it to you for free...not now

Over in England they are used for measuring curtain fabric. Seen it being used in : Dunelm . Do you have one?

I've received a lot more than one inch free when they have cut to the end of the bolt.

PLus some of our stores give a 15% discount if you take all that's on a bolt, whether it be a full bolt, or just the bolt end.

I loved those machines. Mother sewed beautifully and a trip to the L.S. Good department store was a treat. She selected pattern, fabric and notions and I had plenty of time to admire (and touch) the rainbow array of quality fabric. When cutting time arrived I was always at the edge of the table, fascinated by the dexterity of the saleslady. And the decorum of the transaction. Oh, how I longed to slip a yard or two through the magic measuring machine.

One of my first projects was doll clothes for my sister's little Ginny doll. I selected the pattern, just like Mother, and then searched for tiny scaled prints. How professionally and kindly the dear lady cut my 1/8 and 1/4 yard selections. I was shy about my tiny amounts but she treated me as if I were buying yards of silk and velvet. And she measured my bits on the machine.

Me, too! In fact, there was a woman who worked for our local Sears who made, for display in the fabric section, dresses for little girls, mostly in gingham with ruffles and lace. They were exquisitely made and always got a lot of attention from shoppers.

I had forgotten that until you mentioned fabric at Sears!

I remember those days. I think it gave a more accurate cut of fabric because sometimes the people cutting do not pau attention.

Of course that should say pay attention.

Wow, I remember those, and Cloth World and we had Mae's Fabric.

When I was in Charlottesville recently, I went to a fabric shop and they were still using that machine to measure their fabric! I was so surprised to see it. More accurate than using debatable measurements on a counter. Or worse, guessing at 1/2 yd because the clerk couldn't figure out that it was 18"!!

I still miss T G & Y! We had the best store here and I bought a lot of fabric there. I've mentioned that dollar stores have taken the place of five and dimes.....if only they would start selling fabric, too! ;-)

Thanks for the memories! Oh....for the good ole' days.

I posted a couple of photos of our fabric measuring meter in a thread last summer. It's called http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t133050.html

CD in Oklahoma

I have really enjoyed reading this thread. I can remember exactly how it sounded when the fabric was pulled through the machine. My grandma would "go to town" to do her grocery shopping twice a month on Wednesday, and sometimes we'd make a stop at J.C. Penney to get material. I loved looking at the pattern books and daydreaming, and I still do! Later, the mall we shopped at was closed down, and later remodeled into a school where I taught. I always said my classroom was the fabric store.

I don't remember ever seeing that. And I'm not that young! I'm 50.

Wow! Thanks for all the memories to start the day -- those measuring machines, Cloth World, getting dressed up (including hats and white gloves) to go shopping in downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena etc. My first job was at Quigley's Department Store in the San Fernando Valley -- they had free gift wrapping and one of my responsibilities was curling the curling ribbon used to decorate the packages -- I still remember that with a smile whenever I wrap a package.

I remember those and the loud "click" when it reached the amount you needed and made a little snip in just the right spot. The fabric lady would then have a starting point for her cut. Those were the days!

I remember those machines. They also make a clip in the edge of the fabric and the clerk tore the fabric from fold to edge and then hand cut the selvage.

I too remember those from my days as a little girl barely able to see over the counter to watch the magic of the fabrics sliding thru the machine!! My mom bought most of her fabrics at JC Penney's and I can still see that beautiful fabric section! Many, many yards of fabric went thru that machine that my mom purchased!!
I worked in a fabric store in 1971/72 and we didn't have the Measuregraphs at that time.

I think when they stopped using them.... we stopped getting accurate cuts of fabric!!
;( JMHO

I remember them. The employees complained that they were too much of a pain to use. They weren't able to wait on customers as quickly, so the machines were pulled....at least that is what I was told. The rollers also filled with fabric lint and became a royal pain to keep cleaned out once they weren't 'new' anymore.

Wow...yes I remember those...........long time ago......

I used one of those when I worked at the G.C. Murphy store in Beaver, PA back in the late 70's. I didn't really like using it. I thought it was much easier to use a yardstick.