on 2003-07-04 05.28, Paul Trusten at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Perhaps one day the paint industries of the respective countries will agree on > a four-liter can of paint?
Dear Paul, That's pretty much the way that paint tin sizes evolved in Australia over the last thirty years (since metrication began in 1970). Paint is usually supplied in 1 litre, 2 litre, and 4 litre sizes, and this binary method of division has been the pattern for household paints in Australia for multiple litre sizes. For sub-litre sizes, paint makers also use the binary system of 500�millilitres (half litre), 250�millilitres (quarter litre), 125�millilitres (1/8 litre) and � I just checked in my shed � even 375�millilitres (3/8�litre). But all these sizes are written as either litres (for a litre or more) and as millilitres (for less that a litre). There are no vulgar fractions, and there are no decimal fractions listed on any of my Australian paint cans (small sample of 9 cans). I suppose we could argue whether the number series: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 would be a better division as it is like coins in most nations, but I think the horse has well and truly bolted and I can't see much point in trying to close the gate � perhaps I'll just give the gate a coat of paint and hope that the horse comes home on its own! Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Geelong, Australia Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online newsletter, 'Metrication matters'. You can subscribe by sending an email containing the words subscribe Metrication matters to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- >> From: "Joseph B. Reid" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Date: 2003/07/03 Thu PM 03:07:49 EDT >> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Subject: [USMA:26235] Re: Kraft plans to cut snack sizes >> >>> Jim Elwell wrote im USMA 26230: >> >>> For those who want rational package sizes, I suggest you have a long >>> ways to go to demonstrate any net benefit to them. >>> >>> Jim Elwell, CAMS >>> >> >> I agree with Jim. In Canada our *Consumer Packaging and Labelling >> Act* requires a metric statement of quantity, but not a *rational* >> size. Paint used to be sold in 4.55 L (1 imperial gallon) cans. Now >> paint cans have shrunk to 3.79 L (1 American gallon), but this >> enables Canadian paint to be sold in the USA by a mere change of >> label. I am not aware of there having been any protest about the >> change since paint is not a size-dependent product. >> -- >> Joseph B. Reid >> 17 Glebe Road West >> Toronto M5P 1C8 Telephone 416-486-6071 >> >> > > Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > 3609 Caldera Blvd, Apt. 122 > Midland TX 79707-2872 USA > 432-694-6208 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > There are two cardinal sins, from which all the others spring: impatience and > laziness. > > ---Franz Kafka >
