selvage denim trouser fitting

[Gerry]

The idea is you practice the drafts in miniature to get a feel for the process and then apply the principles to your real life measurements.

Ah, that makes sense Schneiderfrei, I thought I was going nuts. Too used to 'modern' (Edwardian) drafts! 

Edit: I think another reason it was done is because (as you point out) the diagrams are quarter scale, to ensure that they look properly proportioned. Therefore the intended size of the book's pages dictated the max measurements that could be used. Also, it's clear from those links I found, that their tape measures were quite short. So if they were practicing the system, there was only so much they could cope with.

All very confusing to the modern eye. I guess that pre-internet, people had to think for themselves and figured this one out no problem! 

[Hendrick]

I had a roof leaking and took the opportunity (or rather the necessity!) this week to do some (...)  cleaning up and going through boxes of old stuf... One of the finds; no less the 3 of the dreaded 1/4 scale rules that we used at college. These are in a white acethate or plastic that works like a dirt magnet for pencil lead; after a month these look like you poked the chimney with them. Any of remember these?


Cheers, Hendrick