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