ORIGIN OF THE SAYING "DOWN TO BRASS TACKS"
The saying, "Get down to brass tacks," orig|inated in mercery and clothing establishments. Before the advent of counter -rulers and devices for measuring cloth, ifc was the habit of shopkeeper.s to have a number of brassheaded tacks on the inner edge of their counters. These were accurately spaced at required distances, and when a foot or yard of ma'terial was asked for it fcould be readily- measured off. Some shopkeepers, however, resorted to the method of measuring yards by the outstretched arm. Of coursc, this was far from accurate, and the storekeeper was often requested to test the measurement by the counter's brass tacks. Tnus the saying, lGet down. to brass tacks." These little tacks for measuring can still be found in some of the older stores,
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Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 5, 29 September 1937, Page 11
Word Count
135ORIGIN OF THE SAYING "DOWN TO BRASS TACKS" Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 5, 29 September 1937, Page 11
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