Vintage Tape Measure Collection by Kozmic Dreams

I hadn't realized such a thing existed until I found some on E-bay in December 2008. Then I was compelled to start collecting vintage measuring tapes, mostly of the celluloid type with advertising for different companies. By July 2009, there were 66 tapes in my collection, all scanned below. Most of the ones in my collection are from the 1920's to 1940's. I have discovered that many are made by the same company---The Parisian Novelty Company, based out of Chicago, Illinois. I listed the dates of the patents or any other date information shown on any of the tapes to give some idea of when they might have been produced. As time permits, I may also research the history behind the companies, items and people and include this information as well. Sorry, none of these tape measures are available for sale.

Weldrest Family Tailored Hosiery On the side, it states: Allen Hosiery Company, 23rd St. and Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia, PA. Made by The Whitehead and Hoag Co., Newark, NJ. 1 3/4" diameter	Harford Frocks, Cincinatti Ohio House of Novelties, Cincinnati Ohio Parisian Novelty Co. Chicago, Patent 7-10-17, 11-4-19. 1 7/16" diameter
Tanbro Fabrics Patent applied for 3-14-47 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter	Wham and Company, Brooklyn, NY. Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter
M. L. Kiska, Custom Tailor, North Tonawanda, N.Y. Made by J.B. Carroll, Chicago, IL. 1 3/4" diameter	Middishade Blue Serge Suits, Philadelphia, PA. Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter
Indian Head Fabrics, Dwight Anchor Sheets and Pillowcases, Nashua Mfg. Company, Nashua, NH Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter	Barnette, Barker, Bonar Co. Mound Brand, Moundsville, West Virginia Patent applied for by Cruver Mfg. Co., Chicago. 1 7/16" diameter
Boot and Shoe Workers' Union Made by The Whitehead and Hoag Co., Newark, NJ. 1 3/4" diameter	E. and H. Shoe Store, Queen Quality Shoes Ellenville, NY No manufacturer listed 1 3/4" diameter
Angelica Univorms, Approved by Test Monte Cloth, The King of Fine Univorm Fabrics Parisian Novelty Co., Chicago. Pat 7-10-17, 11-4, Pat. App. for 3-17-47 1 7/16" diameter

Seashore and Country Real Estate Insurance and Mortgages Allerton, Mass. Copyright 1906 The Whitehead and Hoag Co. 1 3/4" diameter	Western Life Indemnity Company Chicago, Ill. On the side, it states "Our policies equal to any: Superior to many---take our measure." J. B. Carroll, Chicago, USA 1 3/4" diameter
First State Bank of Detroit Griswold at Lafayette No manufacturer listed 1 7/16" diameter	Pomona First Federal Savings and Loan Association M.J. Kennedy Co. Minneapolis Parisian Novelty Co. Chicago Patent No. 2548098 1 7/16" diameter
First State Bank of St. Joseph, Minn. PNCO Pat 7-10-17 11-4-19 Pat 2,549,098 4-17-51 1 7/16" diameter	Midland Union Mutual Insurance Co. Juneau, Wis. PNCO Pat 7-10-17 11-4-19 Pat 2,549,098 4-17-51 (also says M.J. Kennedy on the side with the manufacturer) 1 7/16" diameter

Bank of Dearborn

Dearborn, Michigan

1 1/2" wide by 1 9/16" tall

The Redford State Savings Bank, Redford, MI (now considered to be Detroit)

bank was founded in 1909, so tape can't be much newer than that since it says it was a "new" bank building

J. B. Carroll, Chicago

1 3/4" diameter

I found this interesting information on a genealogy site about the president of this bank:

Thomas Charles Houghten (William Gyles-I) was born in March 1853 in Erin Township, Macomb County, Michigan. In 1880 he was a farmer. He died in 1918. He was buried in Grand Lawn Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Thomas C. Houghten, son of William Houghten and Sarah Sullivan, was a farmer with residence on 12th Street (Fenkell) at Evergreen Road in Redford Township. His wife was Eliza Besancon, the sister of Margeret Besancon. Thomas Charles was a prominant man around the village of Redford. He was a member of the school board. The Thomas C. Houghten School, 167455 Lamphere, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, was named in his honor. He and six other men established the first area bank. In this building, when president of the bank, he was shot by robbers on May 16,1918. He died 24 hours later.

There was a big celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Thomas C. Houghten Elementary School on May 20, 1999. Many descendants took part in the celebration. Richard Santer, Son of Hazel Houghten and Arthur J. Santer, and great grandson of Thomas C. Houghten, gave the "Presentation Hom Thomas C. Houghten Family Honoring our 75th Year".
Supervisor, Redford Township - 1886 - 2 terms
Treasurer, Redford Township - 2 terms
Director, Redford School District No.1 0 - 1879-1901
Member, Redford Township Board of Education - 1890
Co-founder, Redford State Savings Bank - 1909, Shot/Killed in bank holdup - May 1918

I also found out from a book called The City of Detroit, Michigan 1701-1922 by Clarence Monroe Burton, William Stocking and Gordon K. Miller that this bank was built by Albert E. Williams, who was a prominent Detroit architect born in Bristol, England on September 14, 1877. He came to North America in 1888 with his family and settled in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He is also credited with building the Belle Isle Creamery on East Forest Avenue, the Highland Park Municipal Building, the Immaculate Conception Church in Windsor, plus many other apartment buildings and private residences.

The next street east of Redford St. (where the bank was) is Lahser Rd. A website called atdetroit.net states that this street also has a connection to this bank. Lahser Road was named for Charles A. Lahser, president of the Redford State Savings Bank. Mr. Lahser was the longtime postmaster of the village of Redford and owned a general store there.

The building still stands at the S.E. comer of Redford and Grand River Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. The information I found from the genealogy site said that it was presently occupied as the Security Federal Savings Bank. However, I believe this happened in the early 30's. Currently, it appears to be DC Customs, Detroit Wheel and Tire Co (although there is no listing for this place in google, so this information could be outdated as well). It looks like it got an addition to the right side, as shown in the second map.

View Larger Map

McCormick Harvesting Machine Company Made by The Whitehead and Hoag Co., Newark, NJ. 1 11/16" diameter	Kendig Brothers Hardware, Salunga, PA. McCormick and Deering Farm Machines and Implements Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter
Huff Track Sanding Company, Boston, Massachusetts Curran and Burton Agents, Huff Automatic Steam Blower Made by The Whitehead and Hoag Co., Newark, NJ. 1 11/16" diameter	Sears Roebuck and Company, Chicago, IL. David Bradley Plows, Cultivators, Planters etc. 1 3/4" diameter
Alumoyd Sign and Signal Company, Chicago, IL. Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter	The Milwaukee Concrete Mixer and Machinery Co. 1 3/4" diameter
The Globe Oil Company, Cleveland, OH. (the woman side has been re-attached, not sure if she actually goes with this tape or not---seems like a rather unrelated image for an oil company) 1 1/2" diameter	Illinois Farm Service Supply Company Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter
Lewis' Lye, Pennsylvania Sale Mfg. Co. Parisian Novelty Co. Chicago, Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 1 7/16" diameter	Dachdeckung ohne Metalleinlagen Schofer's Verbund Rauch & Luftungskamin I believe this is some special sort of chimney. No manufacturer listed 1 5/8" diameter
Butte Electric and Power Company, Butte Gas Light and Fuel Company Made by Bastian Bros. Rochester, NY 1 3/4" diameter	R.E. Hamilton's Sons Cedar 4460, Detroit, Mich. Truscon 1-A Hy-Rib Metal Lath For Homes No manufacturer listed 1 7/16" diameter
Cooperative Services, Inc., Lake Mills, Iowa PNCO Chicago, Pat. No. 2,549,098 4-17-51 1 7/16" diameter	Railway Materials Corporation, Toledo, OH Parisian Novelty Co. Chicago, Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 1 7/16" diameter
John Deere Quality Farm Equipment John Deere --- He gave to the world the steel plow. Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter	MacKenzie Machinery Corporation 1758 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit 16, Michigan 2" wide by 1 3/4" tall photos of building from Google in 2010

Morrell's Pride Meats, John Morrell and Co. Ottumwa, Iowa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter	General Electric Refrigerators Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter
Frigidaire Corporation, Dayton, OH Product of General Motors The Quiet Automatic Refrigerator Made by Cruver Mfg. Co., Chicago. 1 7/16" diameter	Frigidaire Corporation, Dayton, OH The Electric Refrigerator Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter
Franklin Co-operative Creamery Association, Minneapolis Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter	S and H Green Stamps 1 1/2" diameter
Pabena (precooked oatmeal) and Pablum (precooked cereal) Patent Pending, J.B. Carroll C., Chicago 1 7/16" diameter

The Viking Sectional Bookcase Manufactured by Skandia Furniture Company, Rockford IL. Made by The Meek Co., Coshocton, O 1 3/4" diameter	The Viking Sectional Bookcase Manufactured by Skandia Furniture Company, Rockford IL. unusual metal casing around entire tape 1 3/4" diameter
The Bell Telephone Company of Missouri American Telephone and Telegraph Company Made by Cruver Mfg. Co., Chicago. 1 7/16" diameter	Colgate's Fab Washing Flakes J. B. Carroll, Chicago 1 7/16" diameter
A.J. Logan Co. Pittsburgh, PA The Whitehead and Hoag Co., Newark, NJ 1 3/4" diameter	A.J. Logan Co. Pittsburgh, PA The Whitehead and Hoag Co., Newark, NJ 1 3/4" diameter
Amoco Antifreeze/Coolant 1 1/2" wide by 2 3/8" tall	Montgomery Ward and Co's Retail Store Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company, Chicago 1 7/16" diameter
The Home Incinerator Company, Milwaukee, WI. States on Edge: Clifford A. Loew, Milwaukee Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter

Edwin W. Fiske for Mayor

Of Mt. Vernon, Westchester County, N.Y. Democrat.

Mayor of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., 1916; defeated, 1923, 1927.

1 1/2" diameter

Ordinary Tapes (no advertising)

Salesman's sample measuring tape 1 11/16" diameter no manufacturing information
Mezurall by Lufkin Date unknown, but I believe this tape has been in my household since the 80's. I have stopped using it since beginning this tape measure collection. 2" wide by 1 3/4" tall	Ordinary Celluloid Measuring Tape 1 7/16" diameter


Illinois Surgical Supply Company, Chicago, IL Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter	The Rexall Store Roy R. Getman, Tulsa, Oklahoma Cruver Mfg. Co., Chicago 1 7/16" diameter
Hubert H. Rosser, Optometrist York, PA 1 7/16" diameter	Barlett Mfg. Co., Tree Surgery Supplies Detroit, MI Made by Zippo Mfg. Co, Bradford, PA. 1 7/16" wide X 1 5/8" tall

Fish measuring tape States "I was caught at Detroit, Mich." Fish was made in Japan. 4 3/4" from tip of tail to tip of tape ring.
Soo Locks, Michigan Date and manufacturer unknown 1 1/2" diameter	New York City, Statue of Liberty and Rockefeller Center Date and manufacturer unknown 1 1/2" diameter
1933 Chicago World's Fair Hall of Science Viewed from Electrical Building Patent 7-10-17 and 11-4-19 by Parisian Novelty Company. 1 7/16" diameter	John G. Shedd Aquarium Chicago, Illinois Cruver Mfg. Co. 1 7/16" diameter

Women
1 3/4" diameter	1 3/4" diameter imperfection during production (paper folded back)
1 3/4" diameter	1 3/4" diameter

Port Arthur First Class Restaurant Providence, RI Made by Cruver Mfg. Co., Chicago. 1 7/16" diameter	Anne Nichol's Abie's Irish Rose Comedy Success Republic Theatre, New York September 23, 1924 1 7/16" diameter
Roth and Englehardt, Makers of World Renowned Piano Actions No manufacturer listed 1 3/4" diameter