Rabone produced a wide range of precision tools—from spirit levels and folding rules to squares and pocket measures—renowned for their accuracy and durability.

In this article, you’ll discover a curated selection of Rabone’s finest measuring and marking tools, including spirit levels, folding steel rules, carpenter’s and combination squares, as well as a variety of pocket measures, each presented with details on their design, function, and craftsmanship.

Vintage John Rabone Tape Measures

Wind-up measuring tapes in leather and bakelite cases

Options include linen 9/16 in, metallic 3/8 in, and Rigida woven blades 1/2 and 5/8 in. Bakelite cases are reinforced, waterproof, and finished with a knurled edge. All tapes can be marked on both sides in feet in half inches and links, or paired with other measures, in lengths of 33, 50, 66, and 100 ft. The page also lists steel tapes 1/4 in and 1/2 in wide with bright figures on a black ground, supplied in leather, black steel, or bakelite cases, in lengths of 25, 33, 50, 66, and 100 ft.

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John Rabone Spirit Levels

Range includes brass adjusting levels supplied in a case, a brass model with revolving tube protector, square brass levels including a raised top with field sight, and an iron level with brass top. Offered in lengths from 6 to 14 inches and advertised with best proved tubes.

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John Rabone Boxwood Folding Rules

One foot four-fold & Two feet and Three feet four-fold boxwood rules

One foot, two foot, and three foot four fold patterns are shown with round, square, and arch joints. Options include bevelled edges outside or inside the first six inch fold, extra strong plate joints, and the Blindmans rule variant with bold figures. Graduations offered in inches split to 8ths, 16ths, 10ths, and 12ths, with some models carrying degree scales.

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Two feet and Three feet four-fold boxwood and Calliper rules

Two and three foot four fold rules with inside bevelled edges, four or eight scales, and edge plate joints; brass bound arch joint variants; and a model with spirit level and degree circle. Calliper rules in one and two foot lengths use a brass slide marked to 32nds. Boxwood gauges appear in 3 and 4 inch sizes. Four foot four fold rules carry four scales, with an option for extra strong edge plate joints. Graduations include 8ths, 16ths, 10ths, and 12ths; widths around 1 to 1 1/2 inches.

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Two feet Two-fold Boxwood and Brass rules

Two-foot two-fold boxwood rules with arch joints are offered with scales in 8ths, 16ths, 10ths, and 12ths, plus a version with a brass slide marked to 16ths. Flexible brass rules in two-foot two-fold form appear with round or stop joints. Straight boxwood school rules are 12 inches and brass tipped. Architects folding laths include 5 and 6 foot models with spring stop, also in black with white figures. Boxwood straight bench rules are printed on both sides in lengths from 24 to 72 inches.

John Rabone Glaziers' Laths and T Squares

Boxwood glaziers laths with or without stop block, T squares with brass bound stock, and round yard sticks at 36 inches with brass caps are shown alongside flat boxwood yardsticks and counter measures. The lower section lists two foot two fold flexible steel rules, engine divided or stop joint, some with brass tips, graduated to 8ths, 16ths, 32nds, and 64ths, with widths from half inch to one and a quarter inch.

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John Rabone Steel Rules

Thin flexible folding steel rules and engine divided steel rules

One foot three fold and two feet four fold rules with stop joints, folding to four and six inches, with optional leather cases. Below are hardened and tempered straight rules without joints, engine divided, offered with London inch graduations to 16ths, 32nds and 64ths and combinations with millimetres and half millimetres on one, two or four edges. Narrow thick and very flexible variants are listed, along with 24 inch steel contraction rules for iron and brass in single or double contraction.

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John Rabone Spring Tape Measures

Spring tape measures and spring rules in nickel silver and bakelite cases

Compact center button stop models offer linen or steel tape, dual scales in inches to eighths and millimetres, and lengths of 3, 5, or 6 feet. The Stiff-Flex rule in a bakelite case has a knurled edge and a concavo-convex steel blade for horizontal, perpendicular, and cylindrical measuring. The Spring-Flex version is hand controlled without a push button; the nickel-plated Spring Rule uses a push button return. At the bottom are timber girthing tapes with ring end, showing girth on the front and cubic contents on the back.

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What is the history of the Rabone company?

Rabone began in 1784 in Birmingham as makers of rules and tools. After an early partnership dissolved in 1835, the firm carried on as a family enterprise under John Rabone and later his grandson Eric. It traded for most of its life as John Rabone and Sons (c. 1784–1953) and became a public company in 1948.

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Who was Rabone Chesterman?

Rabone Chesterman was a British measuring tool maker formed in 1963 when John Rabone and Sons of Birmingham merged with James Chesterman and Co of Sheffield. The new firm carried forward both companies’ rule and tape lines under the Rabone Chesterman name. In 1970 it expanded by acquiring Fry’s of London.

What happened to Rabone Chesterman?

Rabone Chesterman was created in 1963 when James Chesterman merged with John Rabone of Birmingham. Stanley acquired the firm in 1989, closed the factory, and dropped the Rabone-Chesterman name. The Rabone name has since been revived, and the former factory survives as offices for Norwich Union.

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