Abstract: A mechanism and method for measuring the nip load between opposed pressure rolls comprising an elongate thin load sensing bar having a length to be coextensive with the nip and having a plurality of spaced sensing load cells embedded in the bar at spaced locations to be centered in the nip and having electrical leads extending along the bar to be connected to a selector switch and an indicator means to measure the electrical characteristic of the load cells at different total loads to determine the uniformity or nonuniformity of load at the different locations in the nip.