Thanks for the memory share, ladies. The measurement machine lasted longer in my hometown stores. Only remember one with the pneumatic tubes and how I longed for one to be used while I was there.

I used one of these at a summer job cutting fabric in a J.J.Newberrys Store, back a whole bunch of years ago. The large roller machines do not snip and cut, they just measure and then you cut with scissors. (FYI - if buying the rolled fabric, please insist they use the roller - you can not accurately cut a 54" roll on a 40" table!). The days of snip and tear went away with the all cotton, known quality fabric. Just try to tear a fabric with any poly in it or a poor quality cotton. Even if it rips sort of straight, the tear will so distort the fabric that you will never iron it back in shape.

I also remember those yardage measuring tools. It would nip the end and she would tear the fabric.
Before that they used brass tacks nailed into the table in increments inches. Thus the expression,"Let's get down to the brass tacks".

I think the term “yard goods” came about back when ladies bought six yards of fabric to make a skirt. When I was 15, grandma made me a floor length prairie dress with “leg-o-mutton” sleeves. It actually took six yards of cotton for the skirt. I wore that dress constantly, every time it came out of the dryer. I wish now I had preserved it for the memories. It was made of a black calico

wow it's been awhile since I've seen one

Never knew where "brass tacks" saying came from.

Me too, the Mill End store had one and they used it a LOT.

Oh, dear - I remember getting fabric at Sears and they used those. Does that make me an antique also? LOL

That brings back memories. My mother was a professional dressmaker and made all my clothes up until I was married and when we went into the large fabric shops in the city they always pulled the fabric from the bolt through the machine to get the exact measurement.

When polyester became popular, the machine would not measure it correctly so they became obsolete. I remember seeing the tubes in stores. I also miss being able to shop at Penney's & Sear's for fabric. Seems like every year there are less choices for fabric.