Storey pole

A storey pole (or story rod, story pole, "story stick", "jury stick", scantillion (obsolete)) is a length of narrow board, often a 1x4 usually cut to the height of one storey. It is used as a layout tool for any kind of repeated work in carpentry including stair-building, wood framing, timber framing, siding, brickwork, and setting tiles. The pole (rod, stick, board) is measured and marked for the heights from (usually) the floor platform of a building for dimensions such as window sill heights, window top heights (or headers), exterior door heights (or headers), interior door heights, wall gas jet heights (for gas lamps) and the level of the next storey joists. It made for quick, repeatable measurements without the need of otherwise calibrated measuring devices or workers skilled in using them.