AN IMPROVED TAPE MEASURE
Year: 1878

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED TAPE
MEASURE." A communication from abroad by Asahel Fleetwood Ward, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1878.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Gen-
tleman. "AN IMPROVED TAPE MEASURE." (A communication from abroad by
Asahel Fleetwood Ward, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States of
America.)
The object of this Invention is to make a flexible waterproof and durable tapo
measure for the use of tailors, dressmakers, shoemakers, and others.
Tape measures of the class to which this Invention relates have usually been
composed of a closely woven fabric and coated with paint or varnish, which detracts
from the flexibility of the measure, and is liable to crack in time and to break off, so
that it not only fails to perform its intended duty, but the graduations or marks,
and figures or measuremonts are soon obliterated.
This improved measure is to be made of a fabric impregnated and coated with
rubber, like the fabric, for instance, which is used in the manufacture of light colored
rubber overcoats or garments, the coating of rubber being on one or both sides of
the fabric, as desired. A strip of this fabric is taken which has no elasticity, but is
very flexible, and on the rubber surface is printed the desired graduations or inarks
and figures or measurements with ordinary printing ink, which has such an affinity
for the rubber that no bending or twisting of the measure will obliterate the marks
or impair the surface in any way.

page_text: The graduations or marks, and figures or measurements, may be printed or
made on a wide web of the fabric before the said web is cut into strips.
This improved measure, owing to its flexibility, is especially adapted for use
by tailors, dressmakers, shoemakers, and by persons of other trades or business.
Moisture will have no injurious effect on it, and it can be washed without
receiving any injury.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Bristow Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th November
1878.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Gen-
tleman. "AN IMPROVED TAPE MEASURE" (A communication from abroad by
Asahel Fleetwood Ward, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States of
America.)
The object of this Invention is to make a flexible, waterproof, and durable
tape measure for the use of tailors, dressmakers, shoemakers, and others.
Tape measures of the class to which this Invention relates have usually been
composed of a closely woven fabric coated with paint or varnish, which detracts
from the flexibility of the measure, and is liable to crack in time and to break
off, so that it not only fails to perform its intended duty, but the graduations or
marks and figures or measurements are soon obliterated.
The improved measure which is illustrated on the accompanying Drawing is made
of a fabric impregnated and coated with india-rubber like the fabric (for instance)
which is used in the manufacture of light colored rubber overcoats or garments, the
coating of rubber being on one or both sides of the fabric, as desired. A strip of
this fabric, which has no elasticity, but is very flexible, is taken, and on the rubber
surface is printed (as shown on the Drawing) the desired graduations or marks and
figures or measurements with ordinary printing ink, which has such an affinity for
the rubber that no bending or twisting of the measure will obliterate the marks or
impair the surface in any way.
The graduations or marks, and figures or measurements, may be printed or made
on a wide web of the fabric before the said web is cut into strips.
This improved measure, owing to its flexibility, is especially adapted for use by
tailors, dressmakers, shoemakers, and by persons of other trades or business.
Moisture will have no injurious effect on it, and it can be washed without receiving
any injury.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention communicated to
me by the above-named Asahel Fleetwood Ward, the manufacture of a non-elastic
tape measure of a fabric impregnated and coated with india-rubber, and having

page_text: graduations or marks, and figures or measurements made or printed on its rubber
surface, substantially as herein-above set forth, and as illustrated on the annexed
Drawing.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
BRISTOW HUNT. (LS.)