On Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:09:44 +0000, Adrian
wrote:

HI Folks

I bought myself a new tape measure the other day. It has the usual
‘sloppy rivet’ arrangement at the ‘hook’ end - but this one also has a
feature that I’d not seen before...

Is the "sloppy rivet" as you describe it not there for a purpose to
allow the end piece to move in and out depending on whether you are
measuring an "outside" or an "inside" ? All measures have them .