DescriptionTape measure case made with a Maxwell House Coffee can lid; Keuffel & Esser 50 foot Ready Reading linen tape. Created circa 1917-1930. It is not believed to have been a product produced for distribution and appears to be a home-made effort. This item apparently preceded the time when Keuffel & Esser and Maxwell House Coffee both had simultaneous operations in Hoboken (years 1939-1968), so there is little likelihood that the item was a collaboration or commission by or for either company. It is held in the collection for its Keuffel & Esser manufactured part of the object. An embossed metal Maxwell House Coffee can slip lid, 4-1/8" diameter x 1/2" high, with gold paint residue, is soldered as a replacement on a Keuffel & Esser retractable cloth tape measure case. Lid, embossed lettering: Maxwell House Coffee, "Good to the Last Drop" Coffee cup at center with a single drop. (Cheek-Neal Coffee Company first used the slogan, Good to the Last Drop, for Maxwell House Coffee in 1917.) K&E woven linen tape, 5/8" wide, English measure in 1/2 inches (typically English measure was offered in tens or twelfths of an inch.) Back of tape at 8 to 10 inch area carries the the company name, trademark, tape brand and a patent date (only partially legible: Dec 18 __.) The "Ready Reading" tapes are stated as "new" in the 35th edition catalog of 1915 (page 493). These cloth tapes were interwoven with metal for strength and durability. No tapes have been found listed as only marked as 1/2" increments. Keuffel & Esser Co. was based in Hoboken in this era although maker's mark lists New York (parent house.)