Oh yes, I remember those machines and wish they were still in use! I often think of them when I watch my material being measured out - can't imagine why they were phased out.

I used them in 1955, the day after I got my working papers, at W.T.Grant. I felt like a real BigWheel using that machine. I still have some fabric with the Grant's sticker on it.

I too remember the fabric stores using them, but I have no clue as to why they stopped using them.

I remember them. Because I went many years without sewing, I didn't even notice they weren't there when I started buying fabric again. They kind of went the way of the x-ray machines they used in the shoe stores to see your feet inside the shoes. As a kid, I thought that was kinda cool too. I guess that's why my feet glow in the dark :)

My LQS still tears the fabric. I was told by the lady that taught my quilting class that you wound up with straighter fabric that way.

I vaguely remember them, but it's too bad they don't use them anymore, because they are probably more accurate than running against a ruler.

here is a picture of one http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...130994-46.html

I just got some batting off the roll at Joann and the clerk used that machine to measure the yardage. I think it is used for all wide rolls.

When I worked at Sew-Fro it was 1/4 yard that we could give away and between 1/4 and 1/2 yard for half price. It had to be written down though.

I remember both the JoAnn's being in strip malls and the little measuring machines. Thanks for refreshing my memory.

Seems like I remember my mother fussing, because the machine did not measure straight.

Currently my Joann still uses it but only for the upholstery. When i bought yardage for my curtains they took it to this other table were the machine was attached it.

Yes, I remember them being used at Penney's. And they usually started measuring after about a foot of fabric, just to make sure that you had enough!!

Ben Franklin had those, back in the day. I found they distorted the edges of my fabric. I always took it home and washed it to get the puckers out.

I remember. When they got the length they wanted, they pushed down on a button or lever and it would make a 1" (approx) cut in the fabric to show they where to start cutting.

I'm old enough to remember those machines and fabric at Sears, K-Mart (before they merged with Sears), J.J. Newberrys, Srpouse-Reitz, Ben Franklin, Cloth World, House of Fabrics, and on and on and on. Sigh!

You are dating us. I remember too.

Yes I to remember those machines-thought they were so neat, makes me feel old.

I remember them being used in a JC Penny store

That's where I remember them from. I always loved to go to the second floor and look and all the fabric even when I was a kid. I'll be 60 in October and I remember a lot of neat things we had back then.

If you buy decorative fabric, they still use that machine.

yes; I remember too. If I remember correctly, the machine "notched" the material at the point it would be cut from the bolt. In those days the clerk then tore the material. (I'm feeling old now!

I remember! In our little town, the local JC Penney used them!

My grandfather and some of his children owned a General Merchandise store (everything from feed for animals, coal, kerosine, to groceries, to "work clothes [khaki's and denims]", shoes, linens, dishes, lingerie, fabrics and notions, costume jewelry, hats, and on and on. Well, my aunt bought one of those little machines to measure fabrics.They sold fabric until the store was demolished and rebuilt in 1968. Have no idea what happened to the gizmo, but I'm sure it's in someone's "stash" from the old store.

I remember the machine and Pennys and Sears selling fabric. Did any of you ever order a box of scraps from Sears for $5.00? I loved to make doll clothes and even made some to sell when I was in high school. My Mom let me order a box. There was one piece big enough to make the stylist A-line skirt.

For the younger quilters, a quick way to measure is to place the fabric to the tip of your nose, extending the length to your fingertips with out stretched arm is very near 1 yard.

look at their big fabric
 

If you go to Joanns and want to buy home dec fabric on large rolls they have
the same kind of machine at the end of the counter to measure out the fabric

I remember them. There were no JoAnn's in our area at the time. But we used to have a Hancock store with large table bins (large wooden tables with sides) of fabric marked .25 cents a yard on up to $1.00 a yard as the max for most cottons; some special dress fabrics were up to $1.25 a yard. The store clerks would measure and the machine would notch the fabric: then the clerk would tear the fabric. Always got up to two to four inches free fabric for straightening after you washed the fabric. Now I really feel old as I haven't seen fabric for less that 2.99 a yard in the past 10 years.

They are used in some stores that sell drapery and upholstery fabrics.
SandyQuilter

We used to have Sew-Fro fabrics here also. Does anyone remember the chain called Caldor in the north east? I worked there as a teenager and the fabric dept. used those machines to cut fabric. I remember them measuring, then putting the little cut in the fabric when they pushed the handle down, then they would rip it. That goes back to the 70's for me!

Just about all fabric stores had them. Every so often I have come across a store that uses them, like every 5 years or more and usually small towns.

There was a five-and-ten (remember them?) that had a surprisingly good fabric department and that's what they used. To a child it was a fascinating thing.

Back in the early 70's the Woolworth store in Houston sold fabric - had one of these machines too.

I think they stopped using them when knit fabrics became so popular. You couldn't get an accurate measument on those things with a knit because it would pull through the machine. I used to manage a Joann fabrics and we had those measure graph machines and they took them out at one point because of the new knit fabrics.

I still measure like that -- end of nose to length of arm -- for a quick take on how much fabric I have or need.

Yes, I remember them and I've been to a quilt shop in Oakley Kansas that still uses it.

nope sorry dont remember them..but i did take a look .... i worked in a fabric department and TG&Y do you remember those stores... well anyway that was before i was sewing so what a waste i could have gotten lots of fabrics.. we marked them down all the time and i got a 20% discount but those days are gone...lol...

I visit this little place up here, the fabric barn, its a shed really and the Lady there uses one to measure and cut. it puts a little cut in the fabric so you could rip it straight.

I remember them and JoAnn should go back to using them. My last trip they shorted me out of a yd in 3 cuts of fabrics and they would not make it right.

Hate to admit it but yes i do remember them, i think they should still be using them, they were more accurate than some of the people measuring fabrics today

Yea I remember those machines, only I remember them from when department stores used to sell fabric. They had a brown crinkle finish, and the clerk would sometimes move the fabric back and forth to gett on point before she pushed the lever down which clipped the fabric, THEN they TORE it!!!!!