Strange divisions/ graduation of steel tape, about 14.8 per major division
Puzzle for the day- I’m trying to figure out what the division are on this steel tape: (the lower tape in this picture)
This is from an Ebay auction, at https://www.ebay.com/itm/Unusual-New-Steel-Tape-on-Wood-Reel-Not-Feet-Not-Links-Not-Sure-What-it-is/353306589101
The major subdivision is decimal 1.18ft, or 14 and 3/16th inches, (14.1875 in)…or in metric, 36cm ? – but it doesn’t seem to close to any known American, Spanish or European measurement (even the various flavors of Texas and Mexican Varas.)
I thought I would be able to google my way to figuring out what this steel tape is sub-divided into/what the graduations are for.. but have had no success. If this was marked in 1/5ths of a unit, then 180cm might be the larger division- K&E sold some tapes marked in 1/5th of a Vara.- but everything I’ve found puts the Vara at around 33 inches… A 6ft fathom divided into 5ths is close, (14.4 decimal inches).. but about 1/4inch longer than this division.
I’ve corresponded with the seller, he’s been in Alaska, Montana and South Dakota- so could have been picked up from those areas.
I’m not looking to purchase it, just curious as to what obscure and forgotten corner of the measurement arena this came from that I’ve missed.
N.D.
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