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Category Archives: History
1819 – a massacre and a missed opportunity
This article looks at the first report of the Commissioners appointed early in the nineteenth century to consider weights and measures. It gives examples of the reasons why the Commission was appointed, comments on some of its recommendations, and then speculates on an alternative … Continue reading
Posted in General, History, Science
Tagged measurement units, metric, muddle, UK Parliament, USA, USC, weights and measures
1 Comment
Watch “Decimalisation (1970)” on YouTube
Our last article, on the subject of the decimal currency changeover in 1971, attracted several comments from our readers, one of which drew to attention to a film relating to the event. For technical reasons, it is not possible to post this … Continue reading
Not a blunder
We take a look at the changeover to decimal currency which occurred almost 50 years ago, and ask if there are any lessons to be learned that will help resolve the UK’s current measurement muddle. Likes(7)Dislikes(0)
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History
Tagged blunder, decimal currency, decimalisation, Government policy, metric measures, metrication
7 Comments
Email correspondence from the archives
Ronnie Cohen draws attention to an exchange of e-mails between a visitor to the UKMA web site and himself, on behalf of the UKMA Committee. Likes(14)Dislikes(1)
Posted in General, History, Myths, Science
Tagged measurement, measurement units, metric
10 Comments
Leading us to the 18th century
Martin Vlietstra, one of our regular contributors, offers his thoughts on an early pronouncement by the newly-appointed Leader of the House of Commons. Likes(24)Dislikes(4)
The kilogram weight
The redefinition of the kilogram takes effect in two weeks time. To mark the event, Martin Vlietstra, one of our frequent contributors, looks at the “old” and “new” versions of this international standard. Likes(20)Dislikes(2)
Posted in History, Science, Technical
Tagged International prototype kilogram, kilogram, Metre Convention
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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(26)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
10 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(31)Dislikes(0)
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Technical, Views from abroad
Tagged cakeism, EEC, EU, imperial, isolationist, metric
9 Comments