Abstract

A combined tape measure and marking device that includes a housing in which a spool is rotatably supported and on which an elongate tape is wound, which tape has measuring graduations extending the length thereof. A spring-loaded arm is pivotally supported from one side of the housing. The arm, on the forward end thereof, supports an alignment arrow and marking device, which alignment arrow may be transversely aligned with a desired graduation on the tape, when the free end of the tape is held at a fixed position on the material or article to be measured.The pivotally supported arm adjacent the arrow supports a manually operable marking device, with the device being actuated manually after the alignment arrow is aligned with the desired graduation, and the actuation resulting in a mark being placed on the article or material being measured. When the arm is released, the arm automatically assumes a second position where the marking device is out of contact with the article that has been measured. Release of the arm also causes the marking quill to retract to a concealed position where it will not further inadvertently mark the article or material being measured. The spool is preferably spring-loaded to automatically retract the tape into the housing after the measuring operation is completed. However, if desired, manually operable crank means may be provided on the housing to retract the tape after completion of the measuring operation.