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tline3open  Measuring Flatware and Serving Pieces

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Author Topic:   Measuring Flatware and Serving Pieces
chase33

Posts: 362
Registered: Feb 2008

iconnumber posted 03-06-2008 11:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for chase33     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hello everyone,

I was wondering what is the best (or standard) way to measure flatware, especially the odd shaped serving pieces? It seems like whenever I use a wooden ruler, I find it hard to determine where the end of the piece lands. I have considered rigging a measuring device similar to the way your feet are measured at the store. On one end would be a flat block attached at the end of the ruler and at the other would be a movable block that can be moved until it fits snug against the end of the piece. Any guidance would be helpful.

Thanks

Robert

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lisa

Posts: 63
Registered: Sep 99

iconnumber posted 03-06-2008 12:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lisa     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I am by no means an expert, but find that laying a piece over the top of a ruler works best for me. I was recently going through my stash trying to ID pieces in a pattern and thought I had lost a ladle because the one I was trying to match up to my noted size (9-1/2") was off by almost two inches. I think the person I got the piece from measured it with a sewing style measuring tape. Now I have two ladles that are 7-1/2" because of different measuring methods. Knowing if there is a standard would be nice.

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Dale

Posts: 2132
Registered: Nov 2002

iconnumber posted 03-06-2008 03:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Measuring pieces varies considerably. AFAICT there is no standard method. Some people use a flexible tape and drap it on the piece. Some use the wooden ruler. There are probably methods I haven't thought of.

One of the reasons for measuring is that with use the dies expand slightly. So pieces produced years apart can be slightly different in size. The people who are upset by a 1/32" difference in salad forks are invariably your customers.

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ellabee

Posts: 306
Registered: Dec 2007

iconnumber posted 03-08-2008 10:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ellabee     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm about as green as they come, except for all the reading I've done.

But from what I've been able to understand, measuring should be done on a flat ruler. Put the piece face down and measure from the point where the plane perpendicular to the tip and end (imaginary or use a playing card) meet the ruler.

The tape-measure method doesn't result in any meaningful comparison between patterns, or an accurate sense of how much room on the table a piece will occupy.

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jprice33

Posts: 204
Registered: Sep 2000

iconnumber posted 03-13-2008 06:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jprice33     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
agreed...standard would be flat down on the ruler...tricky pieces are your Ladles which can be 'bent' down to expand or contract that measurement..we generally will allow 1/8" give or take..there will also be cases where you may have 2 pieces very similar in style and length and perhaps a Bowl Width or Handle Length will come in handy to differentiate the 2..

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Dale

Posts: 2132
Registered: Nov 2002

iconnumber posted 03-13-2008 06:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
On ladles, I measure the handle part on a flat ruler. Then give 3 measurements for the bowl. This seems to calm the situation somewhat.

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