An earthmoving contractor mate used to gleefully relate how he would utilise the cloth 100' tape for measuring excavation work, whenever he encountered any particularly tight-fisted old farmer, who wanted discounts, free yardage, etc etc.
But the secret was, he'd make sure the 100' cloth tape got wet ("yeah, it was in the back of the ute when it rained") before he measured the excavation work.
As he got paid on excavated yards, 5% shrinkage in a wet cloth tape worked admirably for him.
