The Handle-O-Meter stifness tester has a flat plate to hold the specimen over a slot, a bar which forces the film through the slot and a strain gauge to sense the force exerted against the bar by the film sample.
After film sample is centered across the slot, the bar automatically descends to push the film through the slot against the resistance pf the film. The force necessary is sensed by the strain gauge an indicated on a calibrated meter dial. The maximum value of the force is taken as the Handle-O-Meter stiffness of the material.