On 2010/05/23, at 00:29 , Tom Wade wrote:
It is interesting how an apprentice bespoke tailor simply dismisses
all of the old pre-metric measures when he writes:
You can see this in context at:
http://rbakkerkleermaker.blogspot.com/2010/05/patterns-cloth-marking-pattern-drafting.html
Interesting article. Even more interesting is the fact that he uses
cm throughout. Presumably this hasn't hampered his use of the
metric system too much.
Tom Wade
Dear Tom,
You make an interesting point about the use of centimetres in the
Netherlands. However you did not note how long it took for the
Netherlands garment making industry to change from such things as
'duims' to centimetres. As the Netherlands were the first nation in
the world to effectively adopt the metric system* they have had enough
time (194 years – 1816 to now) to accommodate the difficulty of
changing to the metric system using centimetres.
As you know my observation about the choice of centimetres or
millimetres is about the time each of them takes for a metrication
upgrade. I have observed that it takes as little as a day (albeit well
planned) to upgrade to the metric system using millimetres and
typically more than 100 years to negotiate the trauma of a 'metric
conversion' using centimetres. See http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/centimetresORmillimetres.pdf
I would be exceedingly pleased if you could contradict my observation
with some evidence of your own, as I know that centimetres are a
legitimate part of the metric system as it is specified in the
International System of Units (SI), and I would find my life much
easier to go with the flow of those who have made a conjecture that it
is just as easy to change to metric units using centimetres as it is
using millimetres.
I am most uncomfortable in supporting my observation that millimetres
make for a much faster metrication transition as I am constantly
attacked by good folk who have made conjectures about centimetres;
they tend to hold their belief in their centimetre conjecture most
strongly and are they are prepared to argue their case with me quite
vehemently. However, in the tradition of essayists like Copernicus,
Galileo, and the inventor of the metric system, Bishop John Wilkins, I
have to say about my position on millimetres: 'Here I sit!'
* From http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/MetricationTimeline.pdf
On 1816 February 21 the French government made a major step backwards;
the metric system was banned from use in retail shops. In the place of
the metric system, shops were to use the old collection of units,
which were to be known as the 'Mesures Usuelles'. Metric units,
although still used, were outlawed by government decree. The French
ban on the use of metric units in French shops was not repealed until
1825 and the 'Mesures Usuelles' were not made illegal until 1837.
On 1816 August 21, The Netherlands passed a law that would make that
country metric from the beginning of 1820. Before 1816, The
Netherlands used both old and metric units. From 1810 to 1813, The
Netherlands was a part of France and both old units and metric units
were legal under French law. The other Benelux countries, Belgium and
Luxembourg also changed to metric measures at this time.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
Author of the ebook, Metrication Leaders Guide, that you can obtain
from http://metricationmatters.com/MetricationLeadersGuideInfo.html
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has
helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the
modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they
now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for
their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many
different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial
and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA.
Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST,
and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com
for more metrication information, contact Pat at [email protected]
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