fabric measure tool
 

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I had posted this in a thread, but realized a lot of young quilters may never have seen one.
Fabric is run through the groove when it comes off of the bolt and the hands on the front measure the yards. A friend is trying to restore it. If it happens, I'll send after pictures. I have no idea of the proper name for it. The reset button on the rear started a great zip noise as the hands went back to place.

I remember those!! As I recall it also made a nip/cut on the fabric. The clerk would then use this cut as the starting point to rip the yardage for sale.

I love antique tools! My nephew deals in antiques. I'll have to ask him if he ever runs into these things.

I've seen updated ones being used with upholstery and drapery fabric. They set it up so it will roll from one tube to another, and then turn the crank until they've got the requested yardage rolled. And those ones do have the snipping function so they can then advance it and cut.

I remember.

A drapery fabric and upholstery shop in Mesa AZ uses these, they must be still made as their measurer thingies look reasonably new. Invaluable when you are measuring out yardage on 54" wide rolls of fabric. The fabric rolls out electrically from tube to tube as mentioned above..

JoAnn's has something to measure large bolts of fabric. so the way to do it is still going on. I don't remember what it looked like though.

I remember those. I also remember the pneumatic tubes that ran back and forth in the department stores carrying cash. And I remember buying beautiful fabric for 79 cents per yard. Too bad I didn't know to stockpile it back then...

I remember those. I actually used one when I was just out of high school and working for a dept store. Remember when dept stores carried fabrics sometimes called "yard goods"? (or was that just my mother that called them "yard goods"?)

I remember the tubes to send Money back and forth but do not remember the other thingy!

Thanks for the memory, I had forgotten about these gadgets but remember them plainly now ! This summer I was buying a watermelon and asked the young man is we could “plug” it. He had no idea so I said bring me a knife and he let me demonstrate. I only asked because I needed a good melon and wouldn’t have time to return it if it was underripe. He was amazed when I told him it was common practice in grocery stores years ago.

This is such an amazing tool!

I used pneumatic tubes when I was in retail from 78-81. we sent order to our warehouse upstairs with them.. I remember a few pranks we pulled with them.

leonf, it would be fun to hear some of the pranks you pulled.

I too remember both. I was always concerned that some lady would get hit in the head by one of the tubes. Hey, those tubes must have been the idea behind the tubes at bank windows.

Sending insects up was a regular one. Trash too, of course. A few grapes made the trip. The best one happened when we got hold of some dry ice. We found out that if you put a chip of it in an old plastic film can that it would develop pressure inside and blow the lid off. ( Don't try this at home, you'll shoot your eye out) So, of course, we loaded one, waited a bit to build up pressure and sent it up the tube. 30 seconds later we hear a pop and a lot of cursing. And when they looked to see how we had sent an explosive up, they found an empty can with no residue. HEHE.

You guys were evil. Sure wish I'd been there to see the dry ice trick.

Thanks for sharing.

Certainly brings back memories! I wish they still used them; I think they were more accurate than the current method.

Your Mother was right, fabric used to be called yard goods. Maybe because women bought for clothing and always bought no less than a yard? Not sure about that. All the pre cuts are fairly newish to me.

I remember those from my childhood. Most young people or middle aged people probably have no idea what that is.

Talk about memories!

I remember those in Penney's and Sears, as a little girl. I hated it when they ripped the fabric, and I still do. I think it stretched it out of shape.

We also used those tubes in the warehouse I worked in. We would send the orders from the WATS room, down to the guys down stairs to fill. Candy, sandwiches, cigarettes, anything that would fit was fair game. My favorite was when the guys would send mice, thinking they would scare us!

I remember those measuring things too! I remember thinking that was such cool way to measure, watching the dials spin!

If I remember these does that make me an antique too? ��

Wow! Flash from the past and memories of going with my Mom to Plummer's fabric store in Springfield MO where they had those AND the pneumatic tube set-up. They also had some round, hollow tables with fabric bolts shelved on the and I'd duck into the center and hide--and get yelled at! We went there often cause my Mom sewed all our clothing--my Dad is the only one that wore ready made cause he wore work clothes.

I love those gadgets! A store I go to in Philadelphia, MS, uses those to measure fabric, still. I love to rip fabric because it keeps it straight on the grain and avoids any waste. A good hot iron will press the torn edge right back into shape if it ruffles a bit.

Yard goods are called such because they are goods that are sold by the yard. Also known as dry goods.

I also remember both items. BrendaK

I remember those!

Had not thought about these in years....so cool to see one again. Another tool from the past gone to the wayside.

After being reminded I too remember seeing those. Wonder why they ever quit using them.

I remember those! Oh my! What a find you have.

Same memories here dunster, JC Penny's and Sears used these a lot and the tubes too. Many dept. stores used the tubes for years. Gosh how things have changed with our modern technology.

I remember those! I went to a store with my Grandma and she loved to sew and she bought fabric that way. Wow that picture brings back memories. Good memories

In the 70's I worked in the business office of a hospital where pneumatic tubes were used to transport documents. I don't remember what was sent through them or where they came from or went to. I think it was patient charge slips.

Ahhhhh memories!!!

WOW what a blast from the past!!!....and the cut it made....and yes, I too wish I'd known about stockpiling!!!

Memories of going fabric shopping with my grandmother. I would love to own one of those!

I worked at a department store that sold fabric back in the 60s that used one of these machines. When the knit/polyester fabric came out, the machine was not accurate due to the stretching of the fabric as it went through the slot. Hope this helps.