Throughout the period from the mid 1800’s to the mid or late 1900’s, the most common tools for accurately measuring land & moderate distances were the “Gunter’s or Surveyor’s Chain” invented c.1620 by Englishman, Edmund Gunter & the “Surveyor’s Steel Measuring Tape” which gradually began to displace the “Surveyor’s Chain” beginning in the mid to late 1800’s (perhaps with Eddy & Company’s c.1867 American patented steel tape). Fine wire reinforced cloth tapes were also introduced by Chesterman c.1843, but while they served a purpose, were not as widely used for surveying as the “Surveyors Steel Measuring Tapes” introduced about 20 years later, because they were less durable & less accurate. Developments in electronic, infra-red & laser distance measuring & alignment devices in the 1960’s largely displaced common use of the “Surveyor’s Measuring Tape” within a few decades.

The classic “Gunter’s or Surveyor’s Chain” was 66’ long and comprised of 100 japanned steel or iron heavy wire links (each link 0.66’ or 7.92” long) with brass handles at each end, periodic rotating joints to prevent kinking & 9 brass tallies (markers) every 10 links. While 66’ was the most common length, the “Surveyor’s Chain” was less often made in lengths of 33’, 50’ & 100’ and also in various other styles, including metric versions.

Typical measurement units of the period were as follows: For Britain, Canada & the USA: 1 rod = 1 pole = 16.5’ / 4 rods = 4 poles = 1 chain / 80 chains = 1 statute mile / 10 square chains = 1 acre. ….. Historically in Canada, most original road allowances were created with a standard width of 1 chain (66’).

Unless noted otherwise, captioned photos below show items from my personal collection (occasional pieces of related ephemera may be added to provide context & when appropriate, I will try to ensure they are suitably accredited). ……. I’ve only recently started populating this web site with vintage surveying items from my personal collection & the “Vintage Measuring Tapes & Chains” listed below are just a start (there’s lots more to be added regularly, so return often to catch the latest updates). ………….. Please feel free to email me with any questions or comments related to any of my website’s content (If I have gotten an identification or description incorrect, I always welcome thoughtful corrections).

………… Just “left-click” on any image to expand it for better viewing & then “left-click” on the arrows at the right or left side of the expanded image to scroll (in order) down or up (respectively) through the list of images:

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Two Surveyor’s ‘4 Pole’ Chains (aka Gunter’s chains) c.1870’s-early1900’s (James Chesterman & Co. @ left) & (Unknown Maker @ right) – 100 Links (66′), brass handles & tallies (centre tallies marked) – See individual details further below.

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Chesterman 1876 Ad (open source)

 

Chesterman Surveying Chains from 1907 T. Cooke & Sons Catalog (open source) – 1aa

 

Surveyor’s Measuring Chains from Kolesch & Co. 1917 Catalog (open source) -1a

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Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – James Chesterman & Co. – c.1870’s – 100 Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), marked brass swivel handles, 1 intermediate swivel joint – 4.2lbs. – light gage japanned wire links -1cc

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – James Chesterman & Co. – c.1870’s – 100 Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), marked brass swivel handles, 1 intermediate swivel joint – 4.2lbs. – light gage japanned wire links -1dd

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – James Chesterman & Co. – c.1870’s – 100 Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), marked brass swivel handles, 1 intermediate swivel joint – 4.2lbs. – light gage japanned wire links -1ee

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – James Chesterman & Co. – c.1870’s – 100 Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), marked brass swivel handles, 1 intermediate swivel joint – 4.2lbs. – light gage japanned wire links -1gg

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – James Chesterman & Co. – c.1870’s – 100 Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), marked brass swivel handles, 1 intermediate swivel joint – 4.2lbs. – light gage japanned wire links -1hh

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – James Chesterman & Co. – c.1870’s – 100 Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), marked brass swivel handles, 1 intermediate swivel joint – 4.2lbs. – light gage japanned wire links -1jj

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – James Chesterman & Co. – c.1870’s – 100 Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), marked brass swivel handles, 1 intermediate swivel joint – 4.2lbs. – light gage japanned wire links -1ll

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – James Chesterman & Co. – c.1870’s – 100 Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), marked brass swivel handles, 1 intermediate swivel joint – 4.2lbs. – light gage japanned wire links -1mm

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Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – Unknown Maker – c.1870’s-c.early 1900’s – 100Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), brass swivel handles, 3 intermediate swivel joints – 7.1 lbs. – heavy gage wire links -2bb

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – Unknown Maker – c.1870’s-c.early 1900’s – 100Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), brass swivel handles, 3 intermediate swivel joints – 7.1 lbs. – heavy gage wire links -2cc

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – Unknown Maker – c.1870’s-c.early 1900’s – 100Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), brass swivel handles, 3 intermediate swivel joints – 7.1 lbs. – heavy gage wire links -2dd

 

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – Unknown Maker – c.1870’s-c.early 1900’s – 100Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), brass swivel handles, 3 intermediate swivel joints – 7.1 lbs. – heavy gage wire links -2ee

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – Unknown Maker – c.1870’s-c.early 1900’s – 100Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), brass swivel handles, 3 intermediate swivel joints – 7.1 lbs. – heavy gage wire links -2ff

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – Unknown Maker – c.1870’s-c.early 1900’s – 100Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), brass swivel handles, 3 intermediate swivel joints – 7.1 lbs. – heavy gage wire links -2gg

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – Unknown Maker – c.1870’s-c.early 1900’s – 100Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), brass swivel handles, 3 intermediate swivel joints – 7.1 lbs. – heavy gage wire links -2

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – Unknown Maker – c.1870’s-c.early 1900’s – 100Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), brass swivel handles, 3 intermediate swivel joints – 7.1 lbs. – heavy gage wire links -2ii

 

Surveyor’s ”4 Pole” Chain (aka Gunter’s Chain) – Unknown Maker – c.1870’s-c.early 1900’s – 100Links (66′), all 9 original brass tallies (50 links tally marked), brass swivel handles, 3 intermediate swivel joints – 7.1 lbs. – heavy gage wire links -2jj

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Lufkin – ‘‘Minvar” Baseline Tape c.1949-c.1967 shown in images below, is extremely similar to the above K&E’ example from Pg. 512 of the 1927 K& E Catalog -1z

 

Lufkin – ”Minvar” Baseline Tape (on Original Factory Reel), c.1949-c.1967 (model #8100, s/n 7039 – 100Ft. & 19.5” dia. -1aa

 

Lufkin – ”Minvar” Baseline Tape (on Original Factory Reel), c.1949-c.1967 (model #8100, s/n 7039 – 100Ft. & 19.5” dia. -1bb

 

Lufkin – ‘‘Minvar” Baseline Tape (on Original Factory Reel), c.1949-c.1967 (model #8100, s/n 7039 – 100Ft. & 19.5” dia. -1cc

 

Lufkin – ”Minvar” Baseline Tape (on Original Factory Reel), c.1949-c.1967 (model #8100, s/n 7039 – 100Ft. & 19.5” dia. -1dd

 

Lufkin – ‘‘Minvar” Baseline Tape (on Original Factory Reel), c.1949-c.1967 (model #8100, s/n 7039 – 100Ft. & 19.5” dia. -1ee

 

Lufkin – ‘‘Minvar” Baseline Tape (on Original Factory Reel), c.1949-c.1967 (model #8100, s/n 7039 – 100Ft. & 19.5” dia. -1ff

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”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1aa

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1bb

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1cc

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1dd

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1ee

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1f

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1g

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1h

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1i

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1j

 

”DLS Standard Measure #706” (100 Links, 50′) – c.1903 – Issued to E. P. Bowman OLS, DLS, P.Eng – Lufkin Rule Co., Windsor (Topley Co., Ottawa) -1k

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OLS Standard Measure #656 – Issued c.1957 to W.F. Robinson, OLS #952 (made by Chesterman) -1aa

 

OLS Standard Measure #656 – Issued c.1957 to W.F. Robinson, OLS #952 (made by Chesterman) -1cc

 

OLS Standard Measure #656 – Issued c.1957 to W.F. Robinson, OLS #952 (made by Chesterman) -1ee

 

OLS Standard Measure #656 – Issued c.1957 to W.F. Robinson, OLS #952 (made by Chesterman) -1gg

 

OLS Standard Measure #656 – Issued c.1957 to W.F. Robinson, OLS #952 (made by Chesterman) -1hh

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