Date:  Wed, 4 Oct 1995 18:20:34 -0500

From:  Charles F Juengling <juen0001[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]GOLD.TC.UMN.EDU>

Subject: Re: metric or ...



On Wed, 4 Oct 1995, C.A. Hoornstra wrote:



> On Tue, 3 Oct 1995, Anton Sherwood wrote:

>

> > > ... what do you call the system of measurement that

> > > americans use (i.e., the non-metric system). it seems to me i've

> > > heard "english", but this isn't in my dictionaries. ...

> >

> > "customary"

That's what the _World Book_ gives. Both my dual system wrench sets say

'metric and SAE' with no indication of what SAE means. However, I remember

when I was into fixing bikes, the response to 'gimme a wrench' was

always "standard or metric?" Both my wife and a neighbor confirm

'standard' but have never heard the other terms mentioned.

Fritz Juengling

 > >

> > >

> It's called the Imperial System.

>

> But, the American gallon is different from the British gallon. (There are

> other measurements that also differ, like the ton - but I'm not sure of

> them all.)

>

> Actually, the Imperial System is still more familiar than the metric

> system is to some Brits. The UK has finally (within the last week) been

> forced to discard the Imperial System and make a complete shift to the metric

> system in order to be "compatible" with the EC. Many people (mostly the

> older generations) feel that it will be a difficult task. For example,

> although their speed limits are written using kph, the distances between

> the cities, etc. have traditionally been measured in miles. Many butchers

> and green grocers have had to buy new equipment and/or put up conversion

> tables for themselves as well as their customers. It's just a matter of

> getting used to, I suppose.

>