On Sep 28, 2014, at 4:08 PM, ruby@m... wrote:

> 
> 
> All
> 
> Bill lives-1/2 miles from me.  Will you accept his word if
> I show him??
> 
> Ed Minch
> 
> William Ghio  wrote:
>> 
>> No picture, didn't happen. Got a uTube of this?
>> 
>> Bill
> 
>>> I worked under a 74 year old carpenter born in 1900 (named
>>> Joe Shingle) and he showed me how to open the rule to its
>>> full 6' length in 1/2 a second - great parlor trick for the
>>> cognoscenti.
>> 


Ed stopped by yesterday to show me how to open a rule to its full six feet in
seconds. And yes he can and he did. But I couldn't. First, it takes some
practice to learn how to hold the rule. 2nd, you need to oil the joints. My
almost new rule w/ dry joints was way to stiff. Finally, since the process is to
draw your two hands away from each other w/ outstretched arms as the rule
unfolds, if you are not six feet plus as Ed is, you won't get there. I tried it
today w/ my much more worn bench rule and did much better, but given a lack of
practice I still only get it open about 4 feet. Moving very slowly, my 5'6"
frame only allows me to get the rule open more than 60 inches, but still faster
than doing each segment individually.

The trick is to hold the rule in one hand so the width of the closed rule is
vertical w/ reference to the floor (numerals face up). Cup it in your hand so
your fingers cover all but the top segment of rule. Grasp that top segment in
your other hand and pull it away, extending it from the rule. As it extends,
slip your fingers down to allow the next segment to follow. You just keep moving
your fingers down as each segment unfolds. If you let the rule tilt w/ respect
to the plane in which you are pulling the segments it will either stop opening
... or break.

Have fun, be careful.

Bill