A brief review of the measurement capabilities of the leading national metrological institutes of the world in the field of measurements of ruled length gauges (tape measures) is given. A comparative analysis of the construction of comparators is carried out. The thirty-meter laser interference comparator, which forms part of the State Primary Standard of the unit of length (the GET 2-2010 meter), is described. Ways of further improvement and new areas of application, e.g. checking scanners, trackers, level meters, optical range finders and other measuring instruments, are indicated.