This invention was from the company Erhard & Söhne, a metalworking company based in Schwäbisch Gmünd in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was founded in 1844 by Carl Gottlob Erhard (1790-1874) and his two sons Carl and Julius. The company focused on creating beautiful, handcrafted fancy items made from brass and bronze, often silver-plated or gilded. It offered a range of products like dollhouse miniatures, buttons, locks, coins, altar lights and pieces.

The company was extremely successful nationally, but also had massive exports to England and the USA, employing up to 3000 people.

The company is known for inventing the very first spin‑ashtray in 1939. Smokers and non-smokers alike will surely remember this device – 14 millon of them were produced!

After World War II, the company moved into the automotive industry becoming part of the Magna Steyr business.

The tape measure features ornate embossed scrollwork. The tape measure itself is in centimetres and inches and can be pulled out of the drum up to a maximum of 129 cm or 50 inches. It has a fold-down handle on the base to wind the tape back in again after use. A new pin cushion made of red velvet was added to finish the piece.

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