A 1960’s leather cased 100ft standard steel tape measure by Rabone Chesterman.

Made for the County Borough of Newport.

With brass fittings and leather strap handle.

Marked: STANDARD AT 62° F.

Diameter: 16 cm – 6.25 inches.

Rabone Chesterman Ltd of Whitmore St, Birmingham.

James Chesterman (1795–1867) of Sheffield patented the spring rewind measuring tape in 1821. Chesterman’s 1853 patented a process for heat-treating long strips of steel for the manufacture of steel tape measures.