First, a bit of personal info. I like mundane stuff. The stuff nobody likes. The low guy, on a 1970's survey crew would be found doing. Cleaning the tape. Measuring. Getting berated by the "Great ones". (Somebody scream IDIOT!)
So, I found this tape on ebay. Now, we all know, the "Guy in charge" was always on the instrument, TELLING everybody ELSE what to do. That would be my brother. He was as useless as tits on a boar hog, when it came to real work. BUT he always had to "be in charge". Or, look like it.
So, I learned to measure well with a tape. I will never forget, when I was too small to hold the end of the tape, with a plumb bob, so they put me as rear chainman, on the ground, KEEP IT ON THIS NAIL! (Chaining nail).
Then, I got big enough to hold the plumb bob end. Then, I got big enough to pull ANYBODY off of any nail. If the "Great ones" gave me flack, I'd pull them off the chaining nail. I could hold the tape at 6', with a bob, and "Have my way" with them.
But, I digress. I bought this Deitzgen "Made in USA" tape off EBAY, for 14.00, shipping incl. I have never seen a tape like this one. It is marked all along. Full hundred feet, no patches, and in near new condition. Lettering is NOT printed on it. They are embossed, and raised. (The way they should be).
But, this one actually allows a "Dummy end". Where, one of the taping crew, (Chaining crew, for you old timers) does not need to know much. Just where to hold the tape. In the pic below, 10 ft even is in the middle of the pic. Maybe I should have cleaned it more. But, after doing a school day, (Demo for school kids) recently, I just know, I should have a couple of tapes, and a patched one, 200' and a 300' are next.
I love my old tape. It was my "Companion in berations" for many years.
Have I ever tole ya about my new Javad? It's a dream, for a lowly guy like me. It puts ONE person in charge of it all. It was all the years of hard grunt work, that makes me love it. I know what hard work, as bottom guy are all about.
Please, like my tape. Nevermind. I'll do that. Thanks for looking.
🙂
Love the tape. How do you throw it all wrapped around that contraption?
Here is a little better pic. It has the 3|F in Italics.
Sad to confess my sins here. I don't know how to throw the tape. Truth is, the "Great ones" weren't too good at it, and I was berated enough, so I did not try. I like the reel.
I DO know how to "Do up" the tape properly. We'd do that every time we broke it. (The broken piece) and, sometimes, we'd make a long treck back to the truck, and I'd do it up. We never had "Thongs" on our tapes. So, FLAGGING was what we'd tie them with.
When one of the "Great Ones" "Threw" the tape, it'd make a mess. (I suppose they were doing it wrong) I don't know. I'm a sorry mess, I know, being unable to properly "Throw" a tape. Now a days, I carry a fiberglass 100' tape.
Glad you like my tape.
N
I like old stuff too. Went on an eBay shopping spree a few months back and bought 2-3 old plumb bobs. I don't even need them now but thought they were cool.
I think I have seen and maybe used a tape with embossed numbers. I don't think I have seen one with the feet marked at every tenth like that. A classic blunder was reading the next foot when in the 8 or 9th tenth. Must have cost a weeks head chainman's wages when new.
Some 20+ years ago, one of my mentors passed along an old tape he used to use. It was really old, old enough that it should have been marked in chains. I was a little surprised to see it marked in feet, There is some kind of metal brazed to the tape every foot with the exact mark made in the attached metal with the even foot stamped. The only place the tape has tenths and hundredths is on the first foot.
A few years back I purchased a Cubic Precision "Honeycomb Seven" prism target on eBay with all seven of the original glass prisms (yeah, MAYBE it doesn't really qualify as "old codger" stuff but it IS cool)...
Stacy Carroll, post: 417516, member: 150 wrote: Some 20+ years ago, one of my mentors passed along an old tape he used to use. It was really old, old enough that it should have been marked in chains. I was a little surprised to see it marked in feet, There is some kind of metal brazed to the tape every foot with the exact mark made in the attached metal with the even foot stamped. The only place the tape has tenths and hundredths is on the first foot.
that was probably a babbitt chain... soft stuff. kinda like lead, but different alloy. also used in bearings in old cars and lawnmowers
they were heavy
My wife and I updated our wills a few months ago. The attorney we used was also a Land Surveyor for whom I worked 35+ years ago. Sitting on a shelf in his office is a "Certified" tape with documents from the Bureau of Standards.
Andy
I never saw a "chain" on a reel until I moved back to the Cape and started surveying here. In TN we threw "chains" daily. I can still throw one, and I have one! I find it much easier to drag a chain than use the one on the reel. But even easier; the edm and robot 🙂
Andy Bruner, post: 417531, member: 1123 wrote: My wife and I updated our wills a few months ago. The attorney we used was also a Land Surveyor for whom I worked 35+ years ago. Sitting on a shelf in his office is a "Certified" tape with documents from the Bureau of Standards.
Andy
Andy, my Dad told me that every tape they used at the company where he worked in the 60's (Washington DC area) was sent in to the BOS and had it's own certificate. Then we moved to the country where the old county surveyor wouldn't read a vertical angle unless it was over 2 degrees.
Stacy Carroll, post: 417539, member: 150 wrote: Andy, my Dad told me that every tape they used at the company where he worked in the 60's (Washington DC area) was sent in to the BOS and had it's own certificate. Then we moved to the country where the old county surveyor wouldn't read a vertical angle unless it was over 2 degrees.
When I was with the highway department we kept 2 invar tapes (with certificates) in the lock-up room. They were supposedly for special occasions. I guess I was not there long enough to enjoy a "special occasion"...
I also have tons of the "old stuff", including a tape like yours. Can't seem to part with it.
Here's my back table - with old codger stuff. 
I still have and use my original Gammon Reel that I bought in late 1964 - Early 1965.
An amazing tool! It sure kept
I have and use my plumb bob. 16 oz. With 12' gammon reel. To make them last, trim the string to 10'. Then, relax the spring. (take apart, and let it unwind all the way. Then, wind it just tight enough, to make it good. Put together. Works well.
And, my plumb bob has not ever gone out of adjustment....
N
Nate The Surveyor, post: 417565, member: 291 wrote: ... And, my plumb bob has not ever gone out of adjustment....
N
You must rotate it when you pound in cup tacks 😀
Stacy Carroll, post: 417516, member: 150 wrote: Some 20+ years ago, one of my mentors passed along an old tape he used to use. It was really old, old enough that it should have been marked in chains. I was a little surprised to see it marked in feet, There is some kind of metal brazed to the tape every foot with the exact mark made in the attached metal with the even foot stamped. The only place the tape has tenths and hundredths is on the first foot.
I doubt it, most such tapes had only tenths marked and that was from 0 to -1 foot. That some kind of metal is a puddle of solder.
Nate, I learned to throw a tape in college. Education is a good thing.
Paul in PA
Paul, you sure know how to kick a man, where it hurts! 🙂
