About National Tape Measure Day
The use of tape measures can be traced back to ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and the Romans, who used measuring rods and marked cords for construction and surveying.
The modern tape measure, which uses a long, narrow strip of flexible material with linear measurement markings, was patented by James Chesterman in 1821. In 1842 Chesterman and James Bottom patented a woven cloth tape that incorporated strands of wire. Chesterman's 1853 patented process for heat-treating long strips of steel led to the manufacture of steel tapes that remained virtually unchanged for over 50 years.
