On this date in 1868 the first steel tape measure was patented by Alvin Fellows. It was the forerunner of today's handy retractable steel tape measure. The latter is encased to protect it and keep it clean. It's spring-loaded for easy return -- with a click lock to hold in place when taking measurements. Time and repeated use can cause a tape to get lazy, often retracting slowly, or not at all. Extend the ruler fully, and wearing gloves so the tape won't cut your hand, let it retract a few times through folded sheets of waxed paper. As it passes through, a tiny amount of wax will rub off each time to keep your ruler working as smoothly and zippily as ever. Accurate measuring is the most important part of any project. Measure twice, saw once and keep your ruler clean. And that's the On The House tip for today.