Category Archives: History

Metric vs Imperial. Which?

Posted on 2018-04-04 by Ramsden

We comment on a letter and the reply recently published in Which?, the magazine of the Consumers Association. Likes(16)Dislikes(4)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Technical | Tagged CRT, inches, metric, screen size, smartphone, TV | 1 Comment

A wrong turning that led British Leyland to a dead end

Posted on 2018-02-15 by Ramsden

We reprint an article that was first published ten years ago and illustrates the risks of using a mix of metric and Imperial measures. Likes(16)Dislikes(34)

Posted in History, Technical, Transport | Tagged dual-unit, imperial, Leyland National Bus, metric, metrication | 10 Comments

Then and now

Posted on 2018-02-02 by Ramsden

We take a look at a film from 1973 made with the aim introducing the metric system to the general public. Likes(23)Dislikes(46)

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, History | Tagged "Simply Metric", metric, metrication, muddle, UK, UK Metrication Board | 7 Comments

Acres made easy

Posted on 2018-01-27 by Ramsden

We look ahead to the 400th anniversary of an innovation that simplified the measurement of land area, initially in England and later in the UK, by introducing decimals. Likes(19)Dislikes(44)

Posted in General, History, Technical | Tagged acre, decimal, Gunter's chain, imperial measures, metric | 11 Comments

Diaries, and a glimpse into the past

Posted on 2018-01-20 by ronniec

Many of us have probably bought a diary for 2018 recently. Ronnie Cohen takes a look at the conversion tables found at the front of many sold in the UK. Likes(20)Dislikes(44)

Posted in Consumer affairs, History, Technical | Tagged conversion, conversions, diary, factor, factors, imperial, metric, obsolete, unit, units | Leave a comment

Alpine DIY and the generation gap

Posted on 2018-01-12 by Ramsden

Happy New Year to all our readers. In this article, the Editor explains the reason for the absence of new posts on MV in recent weeks. This leads to a discussion of a issue that few of us, perhaps, have … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, History, Views from abroad | Tagged cm, DIY, France, French, measurement units, metric, Metric Sense, metrication, mm | 7 Comments

DfT has done no cost-benefit analysis on metrication of road signs

Posted on 2017-08-10 by ronniec

Ronnie Cohen draws some conclusions from a recent Freedom of Information (FoI) request that he made to the UK Department for Transport (DfT). Likes(23)Dislikes(6)

Posted in History, Road signs, Transport | Tagged benefits, conversion, costs, Department for Transport, DfT, estimated, Ireland, metric road signs, metrication, programme, report, Road signs, road traffic signs, Spain | 5 Comments

Straight bananas and the metric system – the EU legacy?

Posted on 2017-07-06 by ronniec

With Brexit still dominating the news, Ronnie Cohen looks at one of the biggest obstacles to completing our transition to the metric system: its perceived link to the European Union. Likes(11)Dislikes(1)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Law, Media, Myths | Tagged 1862, 1895, 1965, 1992, anti-EU, anti-metric, Britain, common market, decimalisation, EEC, EU, European Coal and Steel Community, European Union, europhobe, eurosceptic, euroscepticism, imperial, metric system, metrication, Metrication Programme, Select Committee, Single Market, standardisation, standards, transition, UK, weights and measures | 15 Comments

The American Influence on Canada’s Metrication

Posted on 2017-05-18 by Ramsden

John Frewen-Lord, a frequent contributor to Metric Views, has just returned from one of his regular trips to Canada. He gives us his thoughts. Likes(7)Dislikes(1)

Posted in Consumer affairs, History, Views from abroad | Tagged Canada, metric, metrication, UK USA metric USC imperial, USA, USC | 5 Comments

A Dickensian surprise

Posted on 2017-05-11 by Ramsden

Charles Dickens is enduringly popular for his memorable characters and his portrayal of the social evils of Victorian England. One of our regular readers, Martin Vlietstra, draws attention to an unexpected contribution he made to Britain’s long-running metrication debate. Likes(10)Dislikes(3)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History | Tagged All the Year Round, Charles Dickens, decimal, Education, metrication, numeracy | 2 Comments