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- Daniel Jackson on How British metallurgists helped to make the first international kilogram
- Daniel Jackson on Isolationist or Imperialist?
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- BrianAC on Carry on muddling
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Category Archives: History
How British metallurgists helped to make the first international kilogram
We reported a few weeks ago on the redefinition of the kilogram. In this article, Martin Vlietstra, one of our regular contributors, outlines Britain’s contribution to the creation of the prototype kilogram upon which the definition had relied since 1889. … Continue reading
Posted in General, History, Science, Technical
Tagged International prototype kilogram, IPK, Johnson Matthey & Co
1 Comment
Two kinds of country?
We return after a break with a short article from one of our supporters about a recent film release Likes(15)Dislikes(2)
Posted in History, Myths, Science
Tagged Apollo moon landings, measurement units, metric, Neil Armstrong
13 Comments
43 years late
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
6 Comments
Isolationist or Imperialist?
On the eve of a showdown Cabinet meeting on Brexit, one of our frequent contributors, Ronnie Cohen, asks if British attitudes both to the EU and to this country’s metric changeover are part of the same mindset. Likes(22)Dislikes(0)
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Technical, Views from abroad
Tagged cakeism, EEC, EU, imperial, isolationist, metric
9 Comments
Energy units – muddle in the making?
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(21)Dislikes(1)
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Science
Tagged electricity prices, energy, gas prices, joule, kWh, therm
1 Comment
Metric Underground
We note the latest contract for the renewal of London Transport’s Underground fleet. Likes(15)Dislikes(2)
Posted in General, History, Technical, Transport
Tagged London Underground, Piccadilly Line, Siemens, trains
2 Comments
Liberia joins the club
We comment on reports that Liberia intends to adopt the metric system. Likes(17)Dislikes(0)
Posted in General, History, Views from abroad
Tagged Liberia, measurement, measurement units, metric, metrication, USC
5 Comments
Metric vs Imperial. Which?
We comment on a letter and the reply recently published in Which?, the magazine of the Consumers Association. Likes(49)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
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(43)Dislikes(34)
Posted in History, Technical, Transport
Tagged dual-unit, imperial, Leyland National Bus, metric, metrication
10 Comments
Then and now
We take a look at a film from 1973 made with the aim introducing the metric system to the general public. Likes(50)Dislikes(47)
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, History
Tagged "Simply Metric", metric, metrication, muddle, UK, UK Metrication Board
7 Comments