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Vybik Jon V
Vybik Jon Feb 28, 2006 15:40:57
Replying to nigelswift

A foot is a foot. Whose foot?

Dear oh dear.

The digits things is about counting systems rather than weights and measures, but even so, a system based around 10 still seems common sense to me.

I mean, look at this nonsense:

Length:
Inch
Link = 7.92 inches
Foot = 12 inches
Yard = 3 feet
Rod, Pole or Perch = 25 links = 5½ yards
Chain = 22 yards = 66 feet = 100 Links
Furlong = 10 chains = 220 yards
Mile = 8 furlongs = 1760 yards = 5280 feet

Area:
Sq foot = 144 sq inches
Sq yard = 9 sq feet = 1296 sq inches
Sq Pole = 30¼ sq yards
Rood = ¼ acre = 1,210 sq yards = 40 sq poles
Acre = 4 roods = 10 sq chains = 4840 sq yards = Statute acre
Virgate = 30 acres
Hide = 4 virgates
Sq mile = 640 acres

Capacity:
1 pint = 4 gills
1 quart = 2 pints
1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints
1 peck = 2 gallons
1 bushel = 4 pecks = 8 gallons

Weight:
1 ounce (oz) = 16 drams
1 pound (lb) = 16 oz
1 stone = 14 lb
1 quarter = 28 lb
1 hundredweight (cwt) = 4 quarters = 112 lb
1 ton = 20 cwt = 2240 lb

W wolfnighthunter
wolfnighthunter Feb 28, 2006 15:50:21
Replying to Vybik Jon

I think i might be looking at this just a little too simply, but what is the point in changing?..just so we can be the same as the rest of europe, so that when foreigners come over they can read the road signs, they know how much cheese they are buying?..i mean think of the cost of changing, the road signs for example.......bloody stupid idea me thinks.

why waste money, time and effort...alot of tosh if you ask me.

R Rhiannon
Rhiannon Feb 28, 2006 15:58:17
Replying to Vybik Jon

Aaactually, if you don't have a fancy digital balance, it makes perfect sense to have a system that deals in easily judged 1/2s, 1/4s, 1/16s etc. You can't work out 0.0625 by looking at it, can you.

Ok in the space age you might need to do things in decimals. But for everyday life a decent fraction is all you need.*

(though I have to admit, how anyone worked out their change before 1971 is a mystery to me).

*Handy when doing drawing too, comparing different things.

M moss
moss Feb 28, 2006 16:05:10
Replying to Vybik Jon

Avoirdupois - thats what it was called on those old exercise books, do you still own one?
all the tables and measurements on the back cover, made the mind work - metrication is for the simple minded ;)