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Category Archives: History
Fire hydrant signs – a successful metric conversion
Metric Views looks at a successful but unsung project that took place during the early years of the UK’s metric transition. We speculate what might have occurred had this job been the responsibility, not of local government, but of the … Continue reading
Posted in General, History, Road signs, Technical
Tagged DfT, fire hydrant signs, metric road signs
5 Comments
US customary measures: friend or foe of British traditionalists?
In the early years of the twentieth century, both US customary (USC) and metric measures were seen by some in Britain as threats to the survival of the Imperial system. The end of Empire saw metric supplant Imperial, while USC … Continue reading
Posted in General, History, Technical
Tagged customary, imperial, measure, measurement, metric, traditional, US, volume
9 Comments
Marathon myth
With the London Marathon being run today, it is timely to remember the metric origins of the marathon, and to puncture the myth that it is a race measured in imperial units.
Posted in General, History, Myths, Sport
Tagged imperial measures, measurement units, metric
11 Comments
Goodbye Imperial. Hello British weights and measures
We, the public, are encouraged by some politicians, by the DfT and by elements of the media to pick and mix our measurement units – to use both imperial and metric. So why has imperial as a system fallen from … Continue reading
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History
Tagged British weights and measures, imperial measures, metric
22 Comments
Mesures usuelles. An anniversary remembered
The comment by Han Maenen on the previous article reminds us that this is the 200th anniversary of a decree which ended temporarily the use of the metric system for everyday purposes in France and elsewhere.
Posted in General, History, Technical, Views from abroad
Tagged customary, mesures-usuelles, metric, Napoleon, traditional
5 Comments
The generation gap
In his recent article “Why I …”, Ronnie Cohen looked at the present to explain why he believes the UK should complete the transition to metric units. However, some of those who commented on his article also looked back. In … Continue reading
Posted in Education, General, History, Science, Technical
Tagged construction industry, Education, metric, metrication
3 Comments
FAQs about the transition to metric signs on UK roads
Readers have commented recently on the obstacles to the transition to metric-only signs on Britain’s roads. This has prompted Metric Views to offer answers to some Frequently Asked Questions on this subject.
Posted in History, Law, Road signs, Transport
Tagged Commonwealth countries, DfT, metric road signs, metric speed limits, metrication, Republic of Ireland, road safety, Worboys Report
28 Comments
Heading for the exit?
Problems of sovereign debt in the eurozone have seen the UK side-tracked in EU decision making, and, say some commentators, headed for the exit. Is this situation likely to impact on the UK’s stalled metric changeover?
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, History, Road signs
Tagged EU, Eurozone, metrication
8 Comments
A very Caribbean muddle
Metric Views has received news on the progress of metrication in the Caribbean.
A bit of imperial history
Recent comments on the value, or otherwise, of retaining historic or traditional measurements in daily use have prompted thoughts on the swift rise of the imperial system of measures in the nineteenth century and on the muddle that has resulted from … Continue reading
Posted in History, Views from abroad
Tagged British Empire, imperial measures, imperial trade
8 Comments