divisions on tape measures

[Phil Pascoe]

Does anyone know what the diamond on a tape measure at about 19 7/32ths is for? It's a direct division of 8' by 5-- but why would anyone need to that?

 

[Dominion]

IIRC it's just alternative to 16"/24" spacing when setting out joists for 8ft boards.

 

[CHJ]

Does anyone know what the diamond on a tape measure at about 19 7/32ths is for? It's a direct division of 8' by 5-- but why would anyone need to that?

As dominion says, alternate spacing for supports that are needed for a loading between those provided by 16"(6) & 24"(4)
for 5 supports 20" is too much, hence 19.2" there should be one every multiple of 19.2 inches - 38.4, 57.6, 76.8 etc.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Thanks guys, I thought that probably was the case but after doing maintenance work for a few decades and never having come across that spacing used for anything, I wondered.