Measurement systems are a collection of units of measurement and rules relating them to each

other. The word “measurement” is derived from the Greek word "metron," which means a limited
proportion. This word also finds its roots in the words "moon" and "month", possibly because
astronomical objects were among the first methods to measure time. In the old days, we used body
parts for informal measurement systems like foot length, cubit, handspan, etc. which were not so
accurate and vary from person to person.

Earliest known Measurement Systems

The earliest known uniform systems of weights and measures seem all to have been created at
some time in the 4th and 3rd millennia BC among the ancient peoples of Egypt, Mesopotamia and
the Indus Valley, and perhaps also Elam (in Iran) as well.

Early Babylonian and Egyptian records and the Hebrew Bible indicate that length was first measured
with the forearm, hand, or finger and that time was measured by the periods of the sun, moon, and
other heavenly bodies. When it was necessary to compare the capacities of containers such as
gourds or clay or metal vessels, they were filled with plant seeds which were then counted to
measure the volumes. When means for weighing were invented, seeds and stones served as
standards. For instance, the carat, still used as a unit for gems, was derived from the carob seed.

Units of length

The Egyptian cubit, the Indus Valley units of length referred to above and the Mesopotamian cubit
were used in the 3rd millennium BC and are the earliest known units used by ancient peoples to
measure length. The units of length used in ancient India included the dhanus, or dhanush (bow),
the krosa (cry, or cow-call) and the yojana (stage).

The common cubit was the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. It
was divided into the span of the hand or the length between the tip of little finger to the tip of the
thumb (one-half cubit), the palm or width of the hand (one sixth), and the digit or width of the
middle finger (one twenty-fourth). The Royal Cubit, which was a standard cubit enhanced by an
extra palm—thus 7 palms or 28 digits long—was used in constructing buildings and monuments and
in surveying in ancient Egypt. The inch, foot, and yard evolved from these units through a
complicated transformation not yet fully understood. Some believe they evolved from cubic
measures; others believe they were simple proportions or multiples of the cubit. In whichever case,
the Greeks and Romans inherited the foot from the Egyptians. The Roman foot (~296 mm) was
divided into both 12 unciae (inches) (~24.7 mm) and 16 digits (~18.5 mm). The Romans also
introduced the mille passus (1000 paces) or double steps, the pace being equal to five Roman feet
(~1480 mm). The Roman mile of 5000 feet (1480 m) was introduced into England during the
occupation. Queen Elizabeth I (reigned from 1558 to 1603) changed, by statute, the mile to 5280
feet (~1609 m) or 8 furlongs, a furlong being 40 rod (unit)s (~201 m) of 5.5 yards (~5.03 m) each.

The introduction of the yard (0.9144 m) as a unit of length came later, but its origin is not definitely
known. Some believe the origin was the double cubit, others believe that it originated from cubic
measure. Whatever its origin, the early yard was divided by the binary method into 2, 4, 8, and 16
parts called the half-yard, span, finger, and nail. The association of the yard with the "gird" or
circumference of a person's waist or with the distance from the tip of the nose to the end of the
thumb of King Henry I (reigned 1100–1135) are probably standardizing actions, since several yards
were in use in Britain. There were also Rods, Poles and Perches for measurements of length.

Units of mass

The grain was the earliest unit of mass and is the smallest unit in the apothecary, avoirdupois,
Tower, and troy systems. The early unit was a grain of wheat or barleycorn used to weigh the
precious metals silver and gold. Larger units preserved in stone standards were developed that were
used as both units of mass and of monetary currency. The pound was derived from the mina (unit)
used by ancient civilizations. A smaller unit was the shekel, and a larger unit was the talent. The
magnitude of these units varied from place to place. The Babylonians and Sumerians had a system in
which there were 60 shekels in a mina and 60 minas in a talent. The Roman talent consisted of 100
libra (pound) which were smaller in magnitude than the mina. The troy pound (~373.2 g) used in
England and the United States for monetary purposes, like the Roman pound, was divided into 12
ounces, but the Roman uncia (ounce) was smaller. The carat is a unit for measuring gemstones that
had its origin in the carob seed, which later was standardized at 1/144 ounce and then 0.2 gram.

Goods of commerce were originally traded by number or volume. When weighing of goods began,
units of mass based on a volume of grain or water were developed. The diverse magnitudes of units
having the same name, which still appear today in our dry and liquid measures, could have arisen
from the various commodities traded. The larger avoirdupois pound for goods of commerce might
have been based on volume of water which has a higher bulk density than grain.

The stone, quarter, hundredweight, and ton were larger units of mass used in Britain. Today only the
stone continues in customary use for measuring personal body weight. The present stone is 14
pounds (~6.35 kg), but an earlier unit appears to have been 16 pounds (~7.25 kg). The other units
were multiples of 2, 8, and 160 times the stone, or 28, 112, and 2240 pounds (~12.7 kg, 50.8 kg,
1016 kg), respectively. The hundredweight was approximately equal to two talents. The ton of 2240
pounds is called the "long ton". The "short ton" is equal to 2000 pounds (~907 kg). A tonne (t) is
equal to 1000 kg.

Units of time and angle

History of Measuring Tools

Since the beginning of time, measurements have played a major role in history. They served as a
valuable frame of reference that enabled ancient civilizations to build, trade and create. We still
carry many of these basic measurement principles with us today and use them in the modern world.

The first measuring tools were actually based around the human body, which is how some of today’s
measurement standards got their name. An inch was considered the width of a thumb, a foot was
just that—the length of a foot—and a yard was the length of a man’s belt.

Often considered the first unit of measurement, the cubit was developed by the ancient Egyptians
and was the length of the arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (about 18 inches).

Luckily, we’ve come a long way from the days of using belts, thumbs and cubits for measurement,
but it’s always nice to know more about the tools you use every day. Let’s take a look at some of the
most popular measuring tools we use on job sites and see how they evolved into the modern tools
we depend on today.

THE HISTORY OF MEASURING TOOLS

MARCH 13, 2019BLOG

Source

Since the beginning of time, measurements have played a major role in history. They served as a
valuable frame of reference that enabled ancient civilizations to build, trade and create. We still
carry many of these basic measurement principles with us today and use them in the modern world.
The first measuring tools were actually based around the human body, which is how some of today’s
measurement standards got their name. An inch was considered the width of a thumb, a foot was
just that—the length of a foot—and a yard was the length of a man’s belt.

Often considered the first unit of measurement, the cubit was developed by the ancient Egyptians
and was the length of the arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (about 18 inches).

Luckily, we’ve come a long way from the days of using belts, thumbs and cubits for measurement,
but it’s always nice to know more about the tools you use every day. Let’s take a look at some of the
most popular measuring tools we use on job sites and see how they evolved into the modern tools
we depend on today.

Measuring Wheels – Going the Distance

Example of a measuring wheel from the 1800s. –Source

You may know the measuring wheel by many different names – surveyor’s wheel, click wheel,
hodometer, waywiser or trundle wheel. Regardless of what you call this trusty device, measuring
wheels have been around for centuries, helping professionals measure distances easily and
accurately.

Ideal for measuring long distances quickly, the measuring wheel has been around since the 1600s.
The earliest surveyor’s wheels worked a lot like the odometers we use today, which isn’t surprising
since the two instruments share the same origin that dates back to Ancient Greece.

While today’s instruments are primarily made from aluminum and come in many shapes and sizes,
the first measuring wheels were created using wood and sometimes iron for added support—
imagine a wagon wheel. In fact, measuring wheels were often made by the wheelwrights
responsible for making and repairing wagon wheels.
Source

Although this valuable measuring tool has evolved in its design, it functions in much the same way it
did hundreds of years ago. Today you will see measuring wheels used most often for construction,
road marking and paving, fencing, surveying, traffic control and insurance purposes.

Wood Rulers – The Kings of Measurement

Source

Some of the first rulers date all the way back to 2650 B.C. The ruler is a staple in any workshop,
acting as a basic tool for measuring length, drawing lines and serving as a guide for cutting.
Throughout the years, rulers have been created in many shapes and sizes, and have used a wide
variety of materials from copper and ivory to the more traditional wood and metal.

One of the more popular rulers for carpenters is the folding rule, invented by Anton Ullrich in 1851.
The folding rule consisted of smaller six-inch rulers that were joined together by pivoting hinges and
could extend to a length of over six feet. It allowed tradespeople the ability to draw straight lines
without the use of a chalk line or mason’s line and was a valuable, compact tool to have on hand at
any job site.

While still considered a trusted tool among masons and old-school carpenters, the introduction of
the more flexible and even more compact measuring tape has caused the folding rule to lose some
of its appeal.
Measuring Tapes – A Real Fashion Statement

Alvin Fellows’ Patented Design – Source

The steel measuring tape was a real game changer for many industries, offering a more flexible and
compact tool that could measure great lengths. Alvin J. Fellows patented the first spring measuring
tape in a circular case in the U.S. But he can’t take all the credit. He was just improving on an existing
design that was created in 1821 in England by James Chesterman.

Chesterman was in the fashion business, creating metal hoops that lined the skirts of dresses that
were popular at the time. When hoop skirts went out of style, James repurposed his surplus of
metal tape by putting graduated marks on the tapes and marketing them to surveyors as a “Steel
Band Measuring Chain” — a lightweight, compact alternative to their current instruments.

Alvin Fellows took Chesterman’s design and added a locking element to it that allowed the tape to
lock when it was extended, thus creating the foundation for today’s retractable measuring tapes.

Measuring Up in Today’s World

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Today’s most popular measuring tapes include long tapes, which measure lengths greater than 40
feet, and short tapes, which measure lengths smaller than 40 feet. Short measuring tapes are by far
the most common measuring tapes out there today. In fact, about 80 percent of all measuring is
done using a short tape measure.

Most measuring tapes are made of either steel or fiberglass, which has become a popular option in
the last 50 years. Roy Nosek, the founder of Keson tools, introduced the first fiberglass long tape
measure to the US market in 1968. The unmatched durability of fiberglass gave these measuring
tools the ability to withstand the toughest field conditions.

Source

Although some of the most basic principles of measurement still hold value today, engineering and
technology advancements have made current measuring tools far more accurate and durable.