Tag Archives: weights and measures

1819 – a massacre and a missed opportunity

Posted on 2020-02-25 by Ramsden

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

Hybrids, old and new

Posted on 2019-03-12 by Ramsden

We have come across two examples of hybrid measures, and speculate if these might help in those countries struggling with the transition from old to new measures. Likes(30)Dislikes(4)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Recipes | Tagged cup, hybrid measures, imperial, imperial measures, measurement units, metric, metric foot, weights and measures | 9 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(41)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 | 16 Comments

Then there were two

Posted on 2017-03-16 by Ramsden

We ask if it is time for supporters of so-called British weights and measures to come to terms with the fact that only two systems of weights and measures are recognised world wide, and British aka Imperial is not one of … Continue reading →

Posted in General, History, Views from abroad | Tagged imperial, imperial measures, metric, US, USA, USC, weights and measures | 34 Comments

Measurement units and the European Economic Community

Posted on 2016-08-19 by Ramsden

In the third of our series of articles we look at EU involvement in the UK’s prolonged metric conversion. Likes(5)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Law, Myths | Tagged EEC, EU, imperial measures, metric, muddle, Road signs, weights and measures | 1 Comment

How the UK created a measurement muddle

Posted on 2016-08-11 by Ramsden

The series of four articles on the outcome of the EU referendum continues with a look at how the current measurement muddle came about. Likes(6)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, History, Law, Road signs | Tagged Department for Transport, Education, EU, imperial, measurement units, metric, muddle, UK, weights and measures | 6 Comments

EU in or out: metric either way

Posted on 2016-03-24 by Ramsden

In February, the Prime Minister confirmed the date of the referendum which will decide whether the United Kingdom remains in or leaves the European Union (EU). The referendum will take place on 23 June 2016. In this article, Ronnie Cohen … Continue reading →

Posted in General, History, Law, Myths, Views from abroad | Tagged 1972 White Paper on metrication, EU, imperial, metric, metrication, weights and measures | 24 Comments

There may be hope for us yet

Posted on 2016-03-11 by Ramsden

Metric Views has come across a personal view on the use of the metric system in Germany that may surprise some of our readers. Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Posted in General, History, Views from abroad | Tagged Germany, measurement units, metric, weights and measures | 24 Comments

A day at the National Museum of Measurement

Posted on 2015-08-07 by Ramsden

The summer holidays are in full swing, so John Frewen-Lord provides us with some light reading for a lazy day, plus a reminder that it is back to school in a month. Now where are my sun glasses? Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, History | Tagged Education, imperial, imperial measures, measurement units, metric, weights and measures | 19 Comments

Metric Malta

Posted on 2015-06-26 by Ramsden

Malta is one of four EU countries which, within living memory, did not have metric as their primary system of measures. A recent holiday in Malta prompted a look at its transition to the metric system from traditional measures. Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Posted in General, History, Road signs, Transport, Views from abroad | Tagged imperial measures, Malta, metric, metrication, weights and measures, yellow buses | 6 Comments