Expert: Barbara K. Acchino - 7/26/2006

Question
Hi barbara,
My friend has an old Tiffany tapemeasure passed down to her from her Grandmother. It is marked with 'MAKER TIFFANYco SILVER' with 1265 scratched in by hand. It is highly patterned with a button in the centre with retracts the measure. Do you think that this item may be valuable?
Thanyou,
Lucy

Answer
Hello Lucy.  Tape measures are collectible and so is Tiffany, so yes, I think your friend's item may be valuable.  The button mechanism, which is used to retract the tape, is a more contemporary feature, so I don't know that the item is antique (100+ old).  What can contribute to value is condition of the tape itself (the scratching of the numbers detract), whether or not the tape still retracts, how detailed the pattern is, etc.  There are on-line appriaser as well as local appraisers.  I would recommend your friend get some good digital pictures of the item and pay for an appraisal.  The other avenue that she can pursue is to find similar items for sale on ebay or other internet shops and compare her item to them.  Barbara