A Kantar may be too difficult to figure out from using a metric scale if it is an odd amount like 22 kg. Making it 20 kg makes it easier to work with when using a metric scale. Also, it is easier to relate to the tonne if it is 20 kg. There would be 20 kantar to the tonne.
Once a country rids itself of non-metric instruments, and has (or chooses) to continue to use old units, the size of the old unit easily drifts to a value that can be easily read on a metric scale. Like a pound becoming 500 g. Something the BWMA loathe.
Euric
----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat Naughtin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, 2004-11-13 14:48
Subject: Re: [USMA:31455] What's a metric kantar
Dear Euric and All,
No, it is not a 500 gram pound. The world cotton market is dominated by the USA, so cotton is sold � usually on the futures market � in pre-metric pounds.
The Kantar seems to be of Arabic origins, see http://www.hagertygrain.com/weights_and_me.htm for details. In Egypt the Kantar is about 22 kilograms (99.05 lb), but I don't know what a 'metric Kantar' is. Perhaps it's a downsized 20 kg Kantar.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin Geelong, Australia 61 3 5241 2008 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.metricationmatters.com
