stake to steady it. With the back of his hand, he brings the mark on the tape into coincidence
with the mark on the copper strip and holds the marks in coincidence until the front contact
man calls "Ready," the rear contact man calls "Right," and the front contact man answers,
"Mark." Immediately following the call "mark," the rear contact man reads the thermometer.
The recorder enters the reading in the record book.
The front contact man assumes a position alongside the forward stake. With one hand he
steadies the tape into its proper position just clear of the top of the stake, alongside the copper
strip, and between himself and the strip. As the tension is perfected and the tape approaches
equilibrium, he places the point of a sharp, symmetrically pointed scribe on the edge of the
copper strip, next to the tape and in coincidence with the terminal mark on the tape. When he
is satisfied that all conditions have been met, he checks the tension, glances down the tape to
see that it is in alignment, and calls "Ready." When he hears the response "Right" from the
rear contact man, he marks the copper strip with the scribe and calls, "Mark."
NOTE: Several precautions must be taken when making the mark. The scribe must be very
sharp and should at no time touch the tape in the region of the terminal mark. The terminal mark
of the tape, the axis of the scribe, and the eye of the man making the forward contact should be
kept in about the same vertical plane. The contact man should mark the copper strip by moving
the scribe away from him in order to keep constant any error due to parallax. The mark should
be made at the very edge of the copper strip in order to make it easier for the rear contact man to
make the contact when the tape is moved ahead.
Immediately after making the mark, the front contact man reads the forward thermometer,
and the recorder makes the notation in the record book.
NOTE: When recording the tape measures, two thermometer readings indicate a full 50-meter
tape length, and one thermometer reading indicates a half-tape length or a setup. Each half-tape
length or large setup should be recorded on a separate line, not on the same line as a full-tape
length. The numbering of the stakes should plainly indicate the full-tape lengths and the partial
lengths. Notes in the remarks column should clearly explain any unusual conditions. At the
beginning of the day's work on the first page, and as often as changes occur, make entries in the
remarks column giving the names and duties of the party chief, the recorder, and the two contact
men. Also, a statement should be made as to the results of the comparison of the balances and the
dial reading being used on the balances. All marginal notes and entries at the top of the page
should be made as the measurement progresses. Inserting notes after leaving the site could result
in errors.
EN0593
3-12
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