Stanley tapes measures the world part IV

Retractable tape rules, up to 1949, were permanently secured to a winding mechanism inside the rule casing. If they broke or were damaged the tape rule usually had to be discarded.

Frederick Volz filed a patent (no. 2,646,940) in September 1949 for a retractable tape rule in which the blade was detachable (Figure 1). This resulted in a line of tapes introduced in May 1950 as "Pull-Push" replaceable blade rules (nos. 346 (Figure 2), 348 and 3410). These tapes had a nickel-plated blade and were made in six-, eight-, or ten-foot lengths. White enamel blades also were offered at an additional cost of twenty cents per rule; these rules had a W prefix on the end of the model number (Figures 3 and 4). Stanley also made the no. 346 for the Hardware Division to give out to hardware dealers (Figure 5). The no. 6386 Direct Reading Rule was given a new Art Deco D-- shape design in 1950 (Figure 6).

In August 1948 Stanley introduced the no. 546 six-foot and the no. 548 eight-- foot rule (Figure 7). These were 17/8-inch diameter, nickel-plated cases with a half-- inch attache blade. These rules replaced the 1266A and were advertised as watch-- size rules for men or women.

Stanley's no. 7506 pull-push rule with removable tape was streamlined into a more modern case design (Figure 8). By 1954 this rule had its case redesigned with a metal decal in the center (Figure 9). Stanley also introduced the nos. 556 and 558 style of D tapes around 1950. These models had replaceable blades and nickel-plated brushed-satin finish steel cases (Figure 10).

Another tape rule introduced in 1950 was the Feather-- lite pull-push rule no. 636W. This rule was six feet long and had a lightweight 13/4-inch diameter case made of red and black plastic and a 3/8-inch white blade. These rules exist with the face side in red or black (Figure 11).

In 1952 a Defiance line of tape rules was introduced. The cases were die-cast with chromium finish. They were available in six-, eight-, and ten-foot lengths, numbered 1206W, 1208W, and 121 OW (Figure 12).

By 1953 the decal of the face of the no. 636 was changed to include a feather and the word "Featherlite" (Figure 13). Also introduced were the Stanley grade nos. 1206W, 1208W, and 121OW D-- shaped case, pull-push rules. They were available in six-, eight-, and ten-foot lengths (Figure 14). Apparently, the Defiance line was discontinued.

In 1954 Stanley began promoting the Handyman line of tools. The "Handyman" name was a trademark of North Brothers of Philadelphia, which was purchased by Stanley on 1 May 1946. The Defiance no. 1260 automatic rule was renumbered to H1260 (Figure 15). The Featherlite rule line had an additional rule added known as No. 736W Automatic rule which had a spring-return blade controlled by a push button on the case (Figure 16).

A new D-style rule, the no. 3610W, was introduced in November 1954. This rule had a 3/4-inch wide double scaled blade with a "true reading mouth," which was recessed allowing the user to see the graduations and numbers on the rule clearly (Figure 17).

In 1955 Austin Stowell filed a design patent for a plastic display box with a magnifying glass (D 181,32 1; Figure 18). This was known as the "Magna View Box" and all the 1200 series rules were marketed in this box (Figure 19). Beginning sometime in 1955, all of the nos. 1206W, 1208W, 121 0W, and the new twelve-foot, 1212W, were manufactured with the "true reading mouth" (Figure 20). Also, a no. 36 12W rule came on the scene at about the same time. This tape was twelve feet long with a V4-- inch wide blade.

With the introduction of the "true reading mouth" feature, Stanley was required to make the die-cast case a little higher. The older 1200 Series D cases were used on a new line of tapes known as the "pacemaker" rules. These were available in 1955 in four lengths numbered A06W, A08W, A010W, and A012W and did notinclude the "True Read Mouth" (Figure 2 1). Metric sizes were also available in models ME06, and ME010, which were two-meter and three-meter rules, respectively.

Stanley was now well into producing tape rules and was ready to enter into the manufacture of steel long tapes. March 1959 brought a new line of tapes known as "white" tapes. These rules were manufactured in twenty-five-, fifty-, seventy-five-, and hundred-foot lengths and thirty- and fifty-meter lengths and were Vs inches wide. White tapes were numbered 635, 63,50, 6375, and 63 100. The cases were made of steel and covered with a long-lasting coated fabric (Figure 22).

Two other line of D-style rules were also introduced in 1958. The first line was a red and black plastic model in three lengths, no. 646W, 648W, and 641 OW, and was advertised as colorful, lightweight, durable, and economical in price (Figure 23). Each size was available in either a black or red front.

The second line was the Glide-O-Matic series of tape rules (Figure 24). These were manufactured in four lengths: six, eight, ten, and twelve feet, and featured a push button lock and an inside reading scale on the underside of the blade. They also had automatic glide return and scribers to mark your work (Figure 25).

These Glide-O-Matic tapes were offered until late 1962, when a new line of rules was introduced that would change the history of the tape measure for the next thirty years. This change will be the topic of the next article.

Walter Jacob writes a regular column for The Chronicle on Stanley tools.

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