The Grandfather of Modern Tape Measures

Hiram Augustus Farrand Jr. made a lasting impact on the world of tools with his invention of the Farrand Rapid Rule in 1922, one of the first coiled steel tape measures. Born in 1868 in Vineland, New Jersey, Farrand graduated from Rutgers College and eventually moved to Berlin, NH, where he worked for the Brown Company before establishing his own factory in 1927. The Rapid Rule quickly gained recognition for its innovative design and practicality, generating $100,000 in its first year and catching the eye of notable figures like Admiral Byrd, who ordered several for his South Pole expedition in 1928.

The Rapid Rule was also featured in the popular play The Bellamy Trial and praised by business forecaster Roger W. Babson, who called it a groundbreaking tool. Despite its success, the economic hardship of the Great Depression forced Farrand to sell the rights to his invention to Stanley Works in the early 1930s for $50,000. Stanley later adapted the design into the iconic Stanley Tape Rule, which is still widely used today.

Farrand’s legacy lives on in every tape measure we use, a testament to his innovative spirit and the timeless utility of the Rapid Rule.

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[projectsandmods]

🤯 Wow, this video has really blown up! I appreciate everyone watching, commenting, and learning together. If you’re into cool projects and engineering, check out my other videos and explore the channel—I’d really appreciate it. And hey, if you think I earned it, feel free to drop a sub!

[XingXeric]

Can't decide if I like to auto retract feature for tape measures now or if I wish that they had an auto extend feature

[jokenboy]

The cuts the kids mustve got playing with these back then must have been crazy.

[jordanlacasse]

This tripped me tf out because I grew up and lived for 23 years of my life in Berlin, where this thing were apparently made. I know a good deal about the place's history, but never knew about a factory making these things. Really cool find.

[GeoffereyEakinsTech]

Damn thing is 100 years old and still 100% functional. A tribute to honest manufacturing... Not like today where everything is intentionally designed to break.

[JAMIEGittins-fy]

It's the first time I've ever seen one of those types of tape measures I believe it is a design that has been overlooked it has a lot of potential to offer

[Issa.nicholas]

That’s actually a lot more cool than I was expecting it to be ngl

[TrueHelpTV]

Seems criminal a billion dollar company like Stanley doesn't still make these for fun

[projectsandmods]

A lot of comments are surprised or incredulous about how well this has held up for so long. The honest answer is its a very simple item and was maintained well.

As for old school manufacturing, consider survivorship bias, we only talk about and remember things that have lasted into the modern age.

Vintage and antique manufacturing isnt magic, modern things can last a long time too.

One aspect is to to supprt quality manufacturers who design things to last, instead of a price point.

The other important aspect is the right to repair. If we are given the ability, know how. and parts to repair and maintain our items, we need to do our part and put the work in. Rather than just buying a replacement.

[stephenlittle]

Thank you, Farrand. Sir, for making the first tape measure device.
I have used Stanley's tapes since using my grandads tools. And my first from my dads tools.
Then i became an appenrice electrician where i got one myself.
Happy days.
I am now 71. Born 1953. 😊😊😊😊😊😊

[mynamejeff]

As a framer i wish these were still around it would be so amazing to have

[Bryan-jdos]

Been using tape measures my whole life and have never seen this, fascinating

[chipscrumbs]

And Stanley got rid of the push button extendo for the retracto.
We have the technology to put both in 1
... without lazers😂

[gmmalotus]

Me, a man who collects weird tape measures: A fine addition to my collection.

[Adam-zjjf]

that auto extend would be really handy in od to reach spots and when your other hand is full

[Inquisitivemind]

My jaw literally just dropped. That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, I had no idea. I’ve been carrying a Stanley tape for 20 years and have never even thought about its origins. So cool. Thank you for sharing.

[Ori-lpfm]

Honestly like this one more than modern ones

[TheThingoftheSky]

I love to extend my knowledge by seeing these kind of shorts. They really went to great measures to create such innovations back in the day.

[lennychorn]

I have one of those. It was given to me by a friend of my grandfather, when he learned that I was into woodworking as a boy. I first used it to build my first soapbox car when I was 10. That was almost 50 years ago.
Yes, it is still functional.

[David-xvye]

I wish they still made these. It would be nice to have a lightweight solution when big bulky tape measures won't cut it.