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Category Archives: History
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
1 Comment
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
6 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
7 Comments
The metric changeover – a continuum or a barrier to surmount?
Readers may have seen versions of world maps showing ‘non-metric’ countries, usually Liberia, Myanmar and the US. The previous article on Metric Views generated comments about the qualifications for membership of this select band, and we now consider this further.
How decimalisation succeeded while metrication stalled
The media like nothing better than an anniversary, so it was predictable that the 40th anniversary of “decimal day” – 15 February, 1971, when the UK finally gave up its archaic and inconvenient coinage and currency – would get a … Continue reading
Posted in General, History, Media, Road signs
Tagged decimalisation, Department for Transport, metrication, weights and measures
13 Comments
An ‘el’ of a standard
The powers that be of the metric system are wrestling with the problem of defining the kilogram independently of an actual physical object (i.e. the very slowly degrading cylinder of platinum-iridium alloy kept at Sèvres, near Paris, known as “the … Continue reading
Did “Victorian values” block metrication?
What is it about the British that makes it so difficult to implement a simple, obvious and necessary reform – the adoption of a single, rational system of measurement, used by everybody for all purposes? A newly published dissertation attempts … Continue reading
Parts of the knowledge economy hit the buffers in South America
It has been said that Britain is becoming a knowledge economy, and also that metal bashing can now be safely left to the low-wage economies of the Far East. If only it were that simple. Consider the railway industry …
Posted in General, History, Technical, Transport
Tagged knowledge-economy railway-industry high-speed-line, metrication
3 Comments