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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 1
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 2
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 3
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 4
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 5
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 6
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 7
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 8
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 9
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 10
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  • Vintage Rabone Chesterman Ltd British Rail Tape Measure, Leather & Brass, C.1963 11
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Description

The history of the Rabone tool-making firm deserves a short description here, because it's an interesting one: it was established in Birmingham in 1784 by Michael Rabone and run by him up until his death in 1808, and then by his wife Elizabeth Shepherd for a period of 23 years, an extremely unusual situation during a time when very few women held managerial positions in any company, let alone one in a male-dominated industry - it would appear that she also chose to keep her own surname after marriage, and one assumes she must have been a very interesting woman indeed. When Elizabeth retired in 1835 the company was taken over by their son John who, now that the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, invested a great deal of money modernising the factory by installing new steam-powered machinery, much to the chagrin of his workers who saw the machines as a threat to their jobs. In fact, they were so angry that, when John told an employee off for refusing to use the new equipment, the man picked up a sharp tool from a bench and stabbed him in the chest. Fortunately, he survived (the man's position in the company presumably didn't); and in 1871 he moved the company into brand new premises and six years later, with his own sons now on the board, it became John Rabone & Sons.

James Chesterman started his company in 1820 in Sheffield, where he rapidly earned a repuation for producing very high quality measuring equipment including a new type of automatic rewind tape measure, and for well over a century the firm did very well indeed. However, by the 1960s British manufacturing was facing stiff competition from overseas factories which could produce items of reasonable (if not equal) quality for far less money, so many companies merged - and thus, in 1963, Rabone Chesterman Ltd. was born. Seven years later, they purchased Fry's Toolmakers of London and became RCF Holdings, then a year on from that they merged with the Birmingham spirit level manufacturer Parry & Bott. The company would enjoy another decade of independence before being bought by the Bardsey Group which never really did anything with it before selling the assets to Stanley Tools in 1989 which owns the company name to this day, but has never used it nor produced any products bearing it - and so, there ends the 205-year history of Rabone Chesterman.

This linen tape measure has a chestnut-coloured leather covering which bears the Rabone Chesterman Ltd. name, so we know for certain in was made since 1963. It's made of steel and brass and is a very high quality tool with the winding mechanism still smooth and in full working order; the fold-out hook on the end of the tape is also in excellent condition. It's been used and the leather has a few scuffs as a result, but none of these are deep enough to penetrate through to the metal underneath; there are no holes and the stitching around the edge is in good order. There is a minor frayed section at the 4ft mark.

One side of the tape measures in inches while the other measures in links, with each link equal to 7.92 inches or 1/100th of a chain - links and chains, derived from the centuries-old English Units, largely fell out of use after 1824 when the new Imperial system was introduced, but continued to be used on the railways right up until modern times (and in fact, the chain still is - though it's now defined as 20.117 metric metres rather than 100 links). Meanwhile, the letters "B.R" are embossed into the leather above the winding handle, so we can see that the tape was either made specifically for or used by British Rail, and it is therefore of interest to railway enthusiasts, collectors of railwayana and those who operate heritage lines in addition to those who simply appreciate excellent quality vintage tools.

• Measuring Limit: 33 feet (50 links)
• Dimensions (diameter x thickness): 12cm x 4cm (4.75 x 1.57"...or 0.60 x 0.199 links)
• Weight: 318g (11.2oz)

Due to the nature of this item it is not always possible for us to identify any missing parts.
For this reason we ask that you please check the pictures carefully, as these show everything that is included.

This item has been very kindly donated to the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity supports people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end-of-life care. Our ‘Outstanding’ services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. Our aim is to provide the highest quality care, helping them to make every moment count.

100% of the money raised from this sale will go to the charity.

Our sales team do their best to check each item and ensure that the description and pictures provided are as accurate as possible.

Feedback is extremely important to the charity so if you are not fully satisfied with your purchase please give us a chance to resolve any issues by contacting us prior to leaving feedback.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via eBay messages, we will make sure that your message is responded to promptly, usually within three working days. Messages sent over the weekend will be responded to on the next working day.

If this item is not quite what you were looking for but you would still like to help our cause, please consider providing us with a donation which can be done via our eBay Charity Profile linked below.

Donate via Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Profile

We only accept payments made through one of eBay's many approved methods. Please make sure to complete your payment within 96 hours of winning an item. Once your payment has been received we will dispatch your item as soon as possible, usually within two working days.

Delivery times are calculated in working days (Monday to Friday). If your order is placed after 1pm, the next working day will be considered the first working day for delivery. In case of bank holidays and during the Christmas period where delays are more likely, please allow an extra few days for delivery.

Domestic Delivery

We aim to dispatch orders within two working days. If for any reason there is an unexpected delay in dispatching your order we will make sure to inform you of this as soon as possible.

We use Hermes to deliver the majority of our parcels. If you would like to specify a preferred neighbour, or safe place for the parcel to be left, please leave the details in a message when placing your order.

Some low-value items will be sent by Royal Mail 2nd Class. Some items of higher value are sent by Royal Mail Signed For or Special Delivery, which requires a signature. If you are not present at the time of delivery, a card will be left instructing you to arrange a redelivery, or to collect your order from the local sorting office.

International Delivery

International orders are handled by eBay's Global Shipping Programme.

For full details please see the following eBay help page: Buying internationally with the Global Shipping Programme.

Items can be collected from our Retail Hub at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Eastern Counties Leather Industrial Estate, Pampisford, CB22 3EE during our opening hours of 10:00 to 16:00, Tuesday to Saturday. If you would like to collect your item please contact us in advance to arrange this.

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Arthur Rank Hospice Charity uses the eBay Returns system to make the process as easy for you as possible. For full details about the process, and for information on how to begin a return, please see the following eBay help page: Return an item for a refund.

Change of Mind

If when you receive your order you are not completely satisfied, you may return the items to us within 30 days for a refund. Returns will be processed within three working days once the goods have been received by us.

Items must be returned to us in the same condition as they were received by you. This includes, but is not limited to: original packaging, original boxes, packaging materials, manuals, blank warranty cards, accessories and documents. We reserve the right to refuse a return or deduct an amount for lost value where the item is returned in a different condition.

We strongly recommend that you fully insure your package that you are returning, as well as using a carrier that can provide you with tracking information or proof of delivery.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity will not be held responsible for returns lost or damaged in transit.

Please be aware that it is the responsibility of the customer to cover any delivery charges for returning an unwanted item.

Incorrect/Damaged Goods

We try very hard to ensure that you receive your order in pristine condition. In the unlikely event that your order arrives damaged or faulty, please contact us via eBay immediately, this will be given special priority and you can expect to receive a response within 48 hours, Monday to Friday. Arthur Rank Hospice Charity will cover the cost of domestic return postage for any incorrect or damaged items, subject to the cost of the chosen return method being reasonable. Please contact us before proceeding if unsure.

About Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity supports people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end-of-life care. Its ‘Outstanding’ services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. The aim is to provide the highest quality care, helping them to make every moment count.

Around 4,000 patients are cared for each year at the Hospice in Cambridge, the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre in Wisbech and in patients’ own homes via the Arthur Rank Community Team. This care supports people to improve their quality of life and fulfil their end of their life choices.

Alongside the care provided by the Inpatient Unit, Living Well services and Hospice at Home teams, patients can access: patient and family support; lymphoedema care; complementary therapy; medical and pain outpatient clinics; and advice from the clinical nurse specialists within the Specialist Palliative Care Home Team. Programmes are practical, holistic and tailored to the individual patient, family member or carer and may also include rehabilitative support, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychological support.

It will cost £10.5 million in 2021/2022 to run services, which are provided free of charge to patients and their loved ones. Contracted services from the NHS are budgeted at £6.98 million, meaning that £3.52 million needs to be raised through donations, fundraising activities and trading. The Charity is extremely grateful to the local community for the continual dedication, commitment and generosity they show in supporting towards meeting this target.