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From: TOG on 9 Nov 2009 09:20
On 9 Nov, 12:07, h...(a)fki030.fki.uu.se (Hans-Christian Becker) wrote:
> In article <4b783d95-371a-4c74-96c6-9a126db54...(a)t2g2000yqn.googlegroups.com>,
>
> TOG(a)Toil <totallydeadmail...(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> >say, US gallons are just over 4 litres whereas Imperial are 4.54
> >litres, US tons are slightly smaller than metric tonnes....
>
> Just _under_ 4 liters ...

Oops, yes, of course.

<snip>
>

> I seem to recall that all petrochemical plants (and possibly chemical
> plants too) in Sweden use non-SI fasteners as well.
>
Any idea why?
From: Greg.Procter on 13 Nov 2009 15:53
On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:51:24 +1300, TOG(a)Toil
<totallydeadmailbox(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> On 8 Nov, 05:18, "Greg.Procter" <proc...(a)ihug.co.nz> wrote:
>
>> Insane like 16 and 20 fluid ounces per pint, 5260 feet per 1760 yards
>
> *Cough* 5280 feet.

Didn't think anyone would have read my rant that far ;-)


>
>> 20 links per chain, 7 separate measuring systems in common everyday use
>> for
>> parts of an inch, (not counting barleycorns), US measurements that are
>> different to English measurements (ounces, gallons, lbs, tons etc)
>> Nautical miles, yanks meauring weights in millions of pounds ...
>
> Causes us no end of hassle at work (agro-industrial stuff). As you
> say, US gallons are just over 4 litres whereas Imperial are 4.54
> litres, US tons are slightly smaller than metric tonnes....
>
> I don't think that natical miles are too much of a problem, actually,
> as knots are just about globally accepted as a measurement of ship
> speed, aren't they?

Knots is internationally insisted upon in aviation - they long ago
figured everyone should speak the same language and that distances/speeds
need consistancy.
Ships are another matter, many marineers use kilometers because they
understand them, and then use NMs in external communication.


>>
>> We haven't even touched on gauge, screw threads, clothing sizes ... �
>> <Sheesh>
>
> Clothing sizes: oh yes, especially shoe sizes. I'm a size 10 UK, which
> is 45-46 metric, and something different in US.
>
> Screw threads: years ago I visited a European factory for Carrier or
> Thermo King (can't remember which it was now: I think TK) and was
> gobsmacked to discover that all the machines were built with AF
> fasteners. Not a metric bolt to be seen. But they explained that as
> that was how it had always been, so it was still, and that spare parts
> for the older kit were still being supplied, and so if they switched
> to metric nuts and bolts, they couldn't supply after-sales service to
> old units. Which made sense.

It does - I have three mills/lathes with US bolts but metric lead screws,
two with metric bolts. I have to be very careful to keep parts and
accessories separate, which is an absolute pain!

I grew up speaking British imperial and then we went metric about 8 years
later. Of course there were quite a number of "standard" British standards
for bolts and the like, plus the US imperials. Was glad to be able to
the much more logical metric. Now all this yank imperial has come back to
haunt us!


Greg.P.
From: The Older Gentleman on 13 Nov 2009 17:20
Greg.Procter <procter(a)ihug.co.nz> wrote:

> Knots is internationally insisted upon in aviation - they long ago
> figured everyone should speak the same language and that distances/speeds
> need consistancy.
> Ships are another matter, many marineers use kilometers because they
> understand them, and then use NMs in external communication.

I didn't know that. Thanks.


--
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Nothing damages a machine more than an ignoramus with a manual, a
can-do attitude and a set of cheap tools
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