Paper tensile tester made in Austria and supplied by J. J. Marshall and Co.

Wooden body with dial in middle of one long side, reading 0-50 pounds. Patent Paper Testing Machine, J.J. Marshall & Co, London and Dartford, Made in Austria. Paper clamped with steel plates and thumb scres on top, one side adjustable in half inch lengths, handle at right endtensions right clamp. Brass end plates at both ends

As the quality of paper became increasingly important to suit the specialist uses of customers, samples needed to be tested to ensure that they met the required standard once in production. Writing paper needs to have a consistent surface and an ability to hold ink whereas packaging paper needs to be tested for strength and how resistant it is to tearing. Quality testing is important to maintain high standards in production. Any variation of quality would impact upon the paper's capability to be used for a defined purpose.

Paper tensile testers were used to test the force which was required to tear a single sheet of paper. This tester would be used in the laboratory. Any noticeable variance from the required standard would lead to production being stopped so that machines could be checked and recalibrated as necessary until the problem had been rectified, causing a temporary loss of output and income.