Tonight I "fix'd it" (sorta) by buying a vintage french MABO tape measure to replace my father's, which I lost over 25 years ago. It was a gift from his father and law to him, and once it was lost, he let me know how much it meant to him.
Back then, he was pissed. It was one of the few times he came down hard on me, and rightly so. It was one of the few tools/ items he really had a sentimental attachment to.
He told me he expected an exact replacement, but in the 80's, it had been discontinued, and these were relatively rare. Before the internet, I even traveled to a MABO supplier, but their new ones weren't the same. As upset he was that I had lost it, I was just as upset I couldn't find a replacement.
We'll, it's a little too late, my dad died a year ago, and he wouldn't have recognized it anyway due to his dementia, but, thanks to ebay... one came up. I had to make things right.
A little sappy, but had to be done. bittersweet. These things really are cool too btw...
