Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2021 5:01:25 GMT 1
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Post by lapourtaider on Sept 21, 2021 7:01:41 GMT 1
I finished school in 1980, and was taught in both metric and imperial units. As with pcpa, I happily switch to whichever is the most convenient when measuring. Since living in France, I tend to think of distances in km and metres, and weights in kgs. Although born, predecemilisation I have no memory of using pounds, shillings and pence.
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Post by mangetout on Sept 21, 2021 10:09:35 GMT 1
I finished school in 1980, and was taught in both metric and imperial units. As with pcpa, I happily switch to whichever is the most convenient when measuring. Since living in France, I tend to think of distances in km and metres, and weights in kgs. Although born, predecemilisation I have no memory of using pounds, shillings and pence. I grew up with pounds, shillings, sixpenny bits, three penny bits, guineas, farthings, pennies, half pennies. It goes on. And don't get me started on weights and measures. I once tried to explain it to a young French boy I was helping to learn English and he was utterly amazed at the archaic complexity. And who can blame him. It was a ridiculous system and one which is totally out of step with today's world.
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Post by plog on Sept 21, 2021 11:04:38 GMT 1
Just please no….I still recall what a real PITA it was (especially if you were the wrong side of the body clock) to have to convert US gallons (as per the American refuellers paperwork) into kilograms of jet fuel to cross check gauging…
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Post by Aardvark on Sept 21, 2021 15:59:10 GMT 1
I finished school in 1980, and was taught in both metric and imperial units. As with pcpa, I happily switch to whichever is the most convenient when measuring. Since living in France, I tend to think of distances in km and metres, and weights in kgs. Although born, predecemilisation I have no memory of using pounds, shillings and pence. I grew up with pounds, shillings, sixpenny bits, three penny bits, guineas, farthings, pennies, half pennies. It goes on. And don't get me started on weights and measures. I once tried to explain it to a young French boy I was helping to learn English and he was utterly amazed at the archaic complexity. And who can blame him. It was a ridiculous system and one which is totally out of step with today's world. Hell. It was even out of step with yesterday's world.
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Post by Aardvark on Sept 21, 2021 16:06:27 GMT 1
I finished school in 1980, and was taught in both metric and imperial units. As with pcpa, I happily switch to whichever is the most convenient when measuring. Since living in France, I tend to think of distances in km and metres, and weights in kgs. Although born, predecemilisation I have no memory of using pounds, shillings and pence. I finished school in 1965, having been taught the US system, then moved to UK finding it odd that gallons were different, etc. Pounds shillings and pence was no big shock because I had survived a couple of long holidays there. Metrication seemed like a breath of fresh air as it was based on logic and so much easier to calculate. The mad thing is that whenever I am using measurements in my work I often use both systems on the same piece of wood. My most used tape is a Stanley 3 metre/10 foot. I must be some sort of hybrid.
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Post by Polarengineer on Sept 21, 2021 17:28:33 GMT 1
Any graduduated stick will do when measuring, the difficulty is when you ask someone else to measure it off in stick knots. So standards are set by everyone and his dog and it is still a mess. The metric system is good, everything by 10 (except french numbering which uses 20, and why not?) specifying standards is very very difficult the same as writing law and like a law a lot of idiots want to bend it their way. Hence, my gallons, not yours, 240 old pence to a pound and 16 ounces too. I believe the brain is meant for something more useful.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2021 18:25:19 GMT 1
Any graduduated stick will do when measuring, the difficulty is when you ask someone else to measure it off in stick knots. So standards are set by everyone and his dog and it is still a mess. The metric system is good, everything by 10 (except french numbering which uses 20, and why not?) specifying standards is very very difficult the same as writing law and like a law a lot of idiots want to bend it their way. Hence, my gallons, not yours, 240 old pence to a pound and 16 ounces too. I believe the brain is meant for something more useful. Depends how accurate you wish to be. There does need to be an absolute reference somewhere. Apart from the two previously quoted agencies the one in France is BIPM. NPL holds all UK standards. This Good Practice Guide is an introduction to measurement if you are interested: www.npl.co.uk/special-pages/guides/gpg118_begguide2measure
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Post by ajm on Sept 21, 2021 18:45:49 GMT 1
As metrication came in I went to a wood merchant to buy some inch square, 6 feet lengths of timber.He said sorry it's now 25mm by 2 metres. OK, says I, how much? Ah well it's 10p/foot so that will be .....
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Nifty
Member
Posts: 4,986
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Post by Nifty on Sept 21, 2021 20:21:23 GMT 1
I finished school in 1980, and was taught in both metric and imperial units. As with pcpa, I happily switch to whichever is the most convenient when measuring. Since living in France, I tend to think of distances in km and metres, and weights in kgs. Although born, predecemilisation I have no memory of using pounds, shillings and pence. I grew up with pounds, shillings, sixpenny bits, three penny bits, guineas, farthings, pennies, half pennies. It goes on. And don't get me started on weights and measures. I once tried to explain it to a young French boy I was helping to learn English and he was utterly amazed at the archaic complexity. My Nan had a groat.
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 7,492
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Post by suein56 on Sept 21, 2021 20:55:59 GMT 1
My most used tape is a Stanley 3 metre/10 foot. Mine too ☺️ .. it must be good as my OH keeps nicking it 😭
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ibis
Banned Member
Posts: 1,376
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Post by ibis on Sept 21, 2021 23:08:02 GMT 1
Another step closer to becoming the 51st state..
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Post by Dominic Best on Sept 22, 2021 8:34:33 GMT 1
I can remember being at a model railway club and being told that OO gauge was a ratio of 4mm:1 foot. That seemed a very odd thing.
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,683
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Post by exile on Sept 22, 2021 8:37:45 GMT 1
Yes it's a very British thing with most of the small scales being described that way x mm/ft
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Post by Dominic Best on Sept 22, 2021 8:39:01 GMT 1
Then there are the questions; How long is a metre? How heavy is a kilogram?
The historical answers to these questions are interesting.
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