Abstract: A tape measure includes a housing having first and second half and a bottom access door which is openable to provide an access port to the interior of the housing. A spool is rotatably mounted upon an axle which has an integrally formed ratchet plate. The ratchet plate engages ratchet teeth that are integrally formed within the interior surface of the housing to provide for rotation of the axle to load a spring within the spool to a desired tension. The ratchet teeth normally prevent rotation of the axle to unload the spring tension. An overriding mechanism allows the axle to axially move to disengage the ratchet plate from the ratchet teeth to provide for rotation of the axle to unload the spring mechanism. A lock button has a thumb operating section at the top portion of the housing and has a pressure regulating section which regulates the pressure that the bottom end of the lock button exerts against the tape.