Old Tools

[Rob Z]

I
Ref tape measures, my fave tape measure is a small Cutman that never leaves my pocket on a job. Cutman are made by Rubi and the only place you’ll find the Rubi badge on there is on the steel tape if you pull it out! … and why is it my fave measure ? well, Cutman Rubi measures are the only tapes that have the metric on the top and the imperial on the bottom! … not like all your freeking upside down yank standard measures made with love in Hong Kong for the American market and inflicted on the rest of us totally disregarding the fact that only you Americans want the inches on top! :smilewinkgrin: … thank goodness for Rubi.

Stan, I don't know where these tape measures are that we are inflicting on the rest of the world, they certainly aren't on the shelves around here....I had to search long and hard recently to find some metric folding rules and tapes when I bought some German tools and needed to work in metric.

 

[Stan001]

Rob - over here if you buy a tape measure the inches are on the top and the metric is on the bottom edge. Obviosly we work 99% in metric so would prefer it the other way around. I guess over there you pay top$ if you need good metric gear .. we'll have to do a deal! :smilewinkgrin: Stan

 

[jay]

stan are you left handed or right might make a diff:8:

 

[diamondtiling]

Rob - over here if you buy a tape measure the inches are on the top and the metric is on the bottom edge. Obviosly we work 99% in metric so would prefer it the other way around. I guess over there you pay top$ if you need good metric gear .. we'll have to do a deal! :smilewinkgrin: Stan

Hi Stan, my tape is metric on the top and imperial at the bottom, I will get the make of it and post it but right now its too cold to go outside.

 

[mikethetile]

i have a leatherbound tape in my tool collection

its made by the Ls starrett co. in Athol mass. usa

its metric only

its in lovely condition

 

[Rob Z]

Mike, Starrett is our gold standard here. I recently treated myself to two Starrett combination squares. Big ,money, but I know these things will go to my son someday. The cheapy ones from Empire that I use out in the field day-to-day...maybe not.

If you can, I'd like to see a picture of your Starrett tape.

 

[lucius]

How old is it Mike i would say a leather bound Starret only in metric, dont get me wrong not worth much but very rare.Starret have been exporting to the U.K. for sometime and i wonder if its something they done in the early 70s when we turned metric.
Lucius.

 

[Rob Z]

Rob - over here if you buy a tape measure the inches are on the top and the metric is on the bottom edge. Obviosly we work 99% in metric so would prefer it the other way around. I guess over there you pay top$ if you need good metric gear .. we'll have to do a deal! :smilewinkgrin: Stan

Stan, one thing that I looked all over the internet for and never could find...a metric folding rule with a sliding depth guage. If anyone knows of one listed for sale anywhere, please send me the link.

 

[Gazzer]

Is this what you are after Rob ?
Axminster No.1 Odd Jobs : Buy Axminster No.1 Odd Jobs at Axminster Power Tool Centre

 

[mikethetile]

How old is it Mike i would say a leather bound Starret only in metric, dont get me wrong not worth much but very rare.Starret have been exporting to the U.K. for sometime and i wonder if its something they done in the early 70s when we turned metric.
Lucius.

hi lucius

i dont know its age

i bought it second hand as i liked the feel and build quaility, i didnt pay much for it and im not worried about its value as im not selling

i did think when i was buying it that an american made metric tape was unusual

but as you say it could have been made for export to europe

the guy i bought it from was an antiques dealer and knew nothing about it at all

needless to say the more questions he couldnt answer the cheaper the asking price became

in the end he took an offer

ive had it about 4 years now