Author Archives: Ramsden

43 years late

Posted on 2018-08-31 by Ramsden

One of the editors of Metric Views has been reading a book entitled “Eleven minutes late” by Matthew Engel. The book is subtitled “A train journey into the soul of Britain”, and may provide a clue to why the UK … Continue reading →

Posted in General, History | Tagged beer, British, cricket, global Britain, metric, misty-eyed nostalgia, railways, UK Metrication Board | 10 Comments

Style guide revisited

Posted on 2018-08-23 by Ramsden

The Measurements units style guide, published by UKMA in 2012, is now available on line with an index. In this article, we outline the purpose of the Guide and note recent enhancements. Likes(23)Dislikes(9)

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Media | Tagged Education, measurement units, metric, style-guide | 21 Comments

Vehicle fuel consumption – another muddle

Posted on 2018-08-16 by Ramsden

We look at vehicle fuel and energy consumption, and put some questions to owners of hybrid cars. Likes(24)Dislikes(7)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Technical, Transport | Tagged energy, fuel consumption, hybrid cars, L/100 km, mpg | 15 Comments

2017 Laws of Cricket (or how not to specify quantities)

Posted on 2018-07-30 by Ramsden

With the cricket season in full swing, Martin Vlietstra highlights some aspects of the laws of the game. Martin is on the active panel of qualified cricket umpires, and also comments frequently on articles posted on Metric Views. Likes(21)Dislikes(17)

Posted in Sport | Tagged cricket, Imperial measurements, laws of cricket, metric | 4 Comments

Mixed messages from Farnborough

Posted on 2018-07-16 by Ramsden

We speculate on the implications of two announcements today from the Farnborough Air Show. Likes(23)Dislikes(18)

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Energy units – muddle in the making?

Posted on 2018-06-30 by Ramsden

It was decided early in the 1990s that the unit for pricing of domestic gas should change from the therm to the kilowatt hour, which is a metric unit but not SI. We ask if this made ‘metric sense’. Likes(29)Dislikes(1)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Science | Tagged electricity prices, energy, gas prices, joule, kWh, therm | 1 Comment

Metric Underground

Posted on 2018-06-22 by Ramsden

We note the latest contract for the renewal of London Transport’s Underground fleet. Likes(22)Dislikes(2)

Posted in General, History, Technical, Transport | Tagged London Underground, Piccadilly Line, Siemens, trains | 2 Comments

Remembering a tenacious campaigner

Posted on 2018-06-14 by Ramsden

It is with sadness we report that Anne Attlee, leader of the Metric Sense Campaign for almost forty years, passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on 31 May 2018. Likes(25)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General | Tagged Anne Attlee, cm, metric changeover, Metric Sense campaign, mm | 12 Comments

Liberia joins the club

Posted on 2018-05-31 by Ramsden

We comment on reports that Liberia intends to adopt the metric system. Likes(24)Dislikes(0)

Posted in General, History, Views from abroad | Tagged Liberia, measurement, measurement units, metric, metrication, USC | 5 Comments

Carry on muddling

Posted on 2018-05-25 by Ramsden

In these uncertain times, politicians are often keen to point out areas where Britain leads the world. We have a suggestion: creating a measurement muddle. Examples follow. Likes(31)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Media | Tagged acre, imperial measures, measurement muddle, metric | 29 Comments