Dennis Brownridge wrote in USMA 8761:
>On an inch-foot tape, the size of the numbers is limited only by the width
>of the blade, whereas on a metric tape it is limited by the narrow (1 cm)
>spacing between the numbers, regardless of the blade width. Therefore, the
>numbers on a wombat tape are much wider, bolder, more open, and easier to
>read than the condensed, narrowed, lighter face numbers on a metric tape of
>the same size--even thought the wombat tape has two number scales and the
>metric tape only one. The problem is magnified by the fact that most of the
>wombat numbers are 1 or 2 digits, while most of the metric numbers are 3
>digits (on a centimeter tape). On a millimeter tape (4 digits required), the
>numbers are even smaller and you have to truncate most of them, dropping off
>the first 2 digits for the 10 mm interval marks. You can only squeeze in the
>full 4 digits every 100 mm. So if you compare a standard 1" (25 mm)
>inch-foot tape side by side with an otherwise identical all-metric tape, you
>will see that the numbers on the former can be read two to four times
>farther away. For people who need glasses to read the metric tape (but not
>the wombat tape), the difference can be a big aggravation. It means that,
>using a metric tape, you have to put your glasses on and off every time you
>make a measurement.
This posing is not intended to dispute Dennis's arguments. He demonstrates
that only a planned and coordinated conversion program can be successful. I
only want to comment on a misconception that exists on the American
measuring tapes that I have seen.
American style:
| | | | | | | |
iii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|i
60 70 80 90 *500* 10 20 30
2 m
European style:
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iii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|iiii|i
146 147 148 149 *250* 251 252 253
I think that the European style of centimetre numbers at every centimetre
is easier to read and much less subject to error in reading than the
American style of millimetre numbers at each centimetre. Beyond 1 m the
American tape is especialy harder to read. The metre numbers are given in
small red characters every decimetre along with the 100 millimetre numbers.
So, in reading an American tape one has to refer to the preceding
decimetre to pick up the insignificant red metre number and the bold 100
millmetre number, and merge these two numbers with the millimetre number at
the preceding centimetre.
