A remote work positioning and measuring apparatus adapted to be mounted on a variety of stock handling machines. A slidable work engaging carriage is moved along the working surface by a hand crank. A tape measure extends between the slidable carriage and the frame of the machine, being wound onto spring-loaded reels at both ends. A hand crank allows the tape to be shifted from one reel to another unless an electromagnetic lock is activated to lock the tape with respect to the movable carriage.
