Measuring tape

A measuring tape comprising:

• a first shaft;
• a spool and a first sheave turnable together about said first shaft;
• an elongate flexible blade having a free end and a tenninal end, the free end adapted to extend out of a measuring tape housing, said blade wound upon said spool when in a frilly retracted position on said spool;
• a second shaft;
• a spiral spring assembly including a spring housing, a bearing assembly, and a spirally wound spring, the spring housing coupled to a second sheave and turnable together about said second shaft on said bearing assembly, the spirally wound spring having a first end and a second end, the first end secured to the second shaft and the second end secured to the spring housing, the spirally wound spring wound around the second shaft and contained within the spring housing so as to wind and unwind about said second shaft as said spring housing and second sheave turn;
• and
• a belt connecting said first sheave and said second sheave, whereby extension of said blade from its retracted position causes turning of said spool which in turn causes turning of said spring assembly to place the spring of said spring assembly in a spring-wound condition which spring will cause retraction of said blade upon release of said blade from an extended position.