Tools have been around for more than two million years, and over the centuries they have been designed to dig, lift, hammer, screw, propel, crush, launch, and measure^ Measurement tools are of the utmost Importance in modern construction.
Although standard weights and measures Stretch back beyond the Babylonians—one of the earliest civilizations—the world's most popular measuring tool is a mere infant. The calibrated foot ruler was invented in 1675, before German Anfon Ullrich (1826- 1895) improved on it in 1851, when he invented the folding ruler. But an even more flexible and compact ruler was soon to arrive on the scene.
The spring tape measure was patented in 1868 by American Alvin J. Fellows. Although the tape was made of cloth rather than metal, Fellows' retractable tape measure is nearly identical to those found in today's toolboxes. Swapping fabric for steel, New Jersey engineer Hiram Farrand updated the tape measure in 1919, when he filed his first rule patent. He received the patent in 1922. Farrand's tape measure was made famous by tool giant, Stanley®, which purchased Farrand's company in 1931 and in 1932 entered the tape-measure business.
Today's tape measures have become high-tech. The latest is the laser distance meter, complete with liquid crystal display and memory storage—effectively a computerized tape measure. Such gadgets, however, are not nearly as popular as their low-tech, low-cost counterpart, the retractable spring tape measure, which is cheap, compact, and flexible enough to be used to measure-round curves or angles.
