"jbm" wrote in message
...

"Rich" wrote in message
...
| No response from UK.d-i-y, so I'll try my luck here. :c)
|
| I bought a cheap open reel surveyors type tape measure, but I'm not
sure
| how to use it.
|
| Top part has a handle grip section, and at the opposite end is a
kind of
| pointer.
|
| Like this:
|
| http://bigslickdeals.com/images/cham...apemeasure.jpg
|
| One side of the tape measures in feet and inches and zero is at the
tape
| end. Other side measures in metres and cm but zero is about 32cm
from
| the end of the tape.
|
| How am I supposed to use this tape meaure. In particular, I cannot
| fathom how to use the metric side of the tape measure. .
|
| Either there is a reason that metres scale starts 32cm from the tape
end
| or it's a production fault. I just don't know.Thanks
|

Gawd. That takes me back! Haven't seen one of them like that for
years.

The reason that the metric side doesn't start at the beginning of the
tape
is so it can be used for all lengths from zero onwards, and used more
accurately. Anyone who has used surveyors tapes a lot soon find that
the
first 30cm or so always become scuffed and obliterated due to ground
drag
and accidental damage. To use it, you have to anchor the end of the
tape so
that the zero mark coincides from where you are measuring from,
sometimes a
lot easier said than done. But at least you can always read the
millimetre
markings free of scuff and dirt. On the imperial side, the zero mark
should
be the inside of the end hoop. What we never ever did work out was why
they
didn't do the same on the imperial side.

The idea came about shortly after the construction industry converted
from
imperial to decimal in the early seventies, and measurement tolerances
dropped to +/-1mm on some jobs, instead of 1/8" or 1/4" in the old
system.
There were so many complaints about not being able to hold a tape in
the
correct zero position with such tight tolerances that the
manufacturers came
up with this idea.

The pointer on the casing is so you can stick the tape measure in the
ground, instead of laying it flat and getting it covered and clogged
in mud.
When not in use it should be hung up by the handle. This prevents the
tape
itself "dropping" to one side of the case, and subsequently rubbing
and
chafing as it is unwound. If it does get dirty, unwind it into a large
bowl
of water, and then get someone to pull it through a towel to dry it as
you
wind it back in.

jim, Northampton

Hi. I was becoming more and more convinced that there was a production
error, but you obviously have considered the issue before and figured
the answer.

I don't think many folks know the answer. :c)

What one can do is fold the tape at the zero mark and use a strong paper
clip. Like you say, could be tricky to arrange start of measure at the
zero point.

Of course, as was pointed our elsewhere, perfect if you loop the end of
the tape around a pipe approx 10cm diameter. :c) Thanks.