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Author Topic: Guide to Imperial Measurents  (Read 8378 times)

Bob K

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Guide to Imperial Measurents
« on: August 21, 2014, 07:20:16 am »

As a former draughtsman we all converted to Metric way back in 1971.  Using Metric ever since I am often asked "What's that in English" when I quote a distance.  To be obtuse I usually convert it to the original imperial Barleycorns from which our wonderful Imperial Inch was defined in 1324.

This Number Hub video clip nicely explains how the whole Imperial measurement system works . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7x-RGfd0Yk

At school we had to learn most of these conversions, and how to do long division of Pounds Shillings and Pence.
Few of these units were ever English anyway but ancient foreign imports.
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rob

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2014, 07:55:47 am »

Very good, I like that one.
I must admit to using metric for small work on models, I no longer think 7/32 of an inch, but when it comes to 'how long?' Then it's 61 inches or whatever
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roycv

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2014, 08:45:35 am »

Hi Rob I agree, small things metric but I need inches etc. for visualizing longer lengths.

Now that I do not have to sell my time to the best bidder.  I think of all my time as my own and one of my favourite time measurements is the "micro-fortnight"  I think in fortnights as this is how long one pack of pills lasts.

The micro-fortnight is slightly longer than the second and so gives you a little more time to do things.  I used to use "half a tick" but at my age that rather lacks the gravitas of the micro-fortnight.

regards Roy
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raflaunches

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2014, 08:56:16 am »

I, too, use metric for anything below an inch then automatically switch to imperial for all other measurements! And I was born in 1984!!! So well done teachers, I'm born 13 years after decimalisation and I use imperial measurements everyday. Get this though...
I work on an aircraft designed by a consortium of three nations who use metric measurements but the engines are imperial, and strangely two bolts on random parts of the aircraft are imperial too! %%


Someone said to me 'how far is it to Kings Lynn?' So I replied it's about 13 miles, they said 'oh what's that in kilometres?!' To which off the top of my head couldn't answer straight away because like many I suspect we are hard wired to think in imperial for distances and can't visualise a kilometre.


Great link Bob! My dad enjoyed it too! :-))
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Bob K

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2014, 09:07:12 am »

Love the unit Micro-Fortnight  :-))

With increasing distance it is true we tend to switch to Imperial.  ie: A distance I am prepared to walk is in feet because that's what I use to walk.  However if its further than from the car park to lake side then it is in miles 'cause that is what cars are calibrated in.  Strange, Britain never fully converted.

Today I am sailing my little Springer, which for reference is 2.6 deci-fathoms in length  %%
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rob

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2014, 09:10:20 am »

What's that in barleycorns Bob ?
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Bob K

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #6 on: August 21, 2014, 09:18:26 am »

Sorry Rob, should have given that too.  57 Barleycorns
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Arrow5

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2014, 09:30:41 am »

..and if you ask how far it is from Boston to New York the Americans might say about 6 hours.
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dougal99

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2014, 10:09:28 am »


  Strange, Britain never fully converted.




On Holiday in the Grand Canyon some years ago I had occasion to explain the mix we use to one of the Rangers. I think he is still in therapy  %%
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dreadnought72

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2014, 10:17:51 am »

As a person rooted in Physics, I quite like the

barn.MegaParsec

A barn is approximately equal to the cross sectional area of a Uranium atom. A Mega Parsec is a distance just a bit beyond the Andromeda Galaxy. Multiply them together and you get a volume.

11 of these is a unit of whisky.  :-))

Andy
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davidm1945

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2014, 10:32:52 am »

When my sons were at school they laughed at me for using imperial measurements - "poor old chap doesn't he know we've gone metric.....?". Then they left uni and both went into aerospace engineering and lo, they had to learn imperial cos the yanks still use it! Old guys rule!!
Dave.

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malcolmfrary

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #11 on: August 21, 2014, 10:58:47 am »

I do like millimetres for small measurements, feet are good for measuring rooms, yards are for walking, miles for driving.  The mess of numerators and denominators in small measurements in the imperial system really deserves to be replaced, but fractions are good when cutting a cake.
On a visit to Florida I found the habit of showing the distance to the next turnoff in feet rather disconcerting - my brain thinks in yards.  On the other hand, driving in a metric place like Cyprus was very relaxing, road signs and the speedo were in KM, KMpH, my brains were in miles and MpH.
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roycv

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #12 on: August 21, 2014, 11:45:43 am »

Hi malcolm, you may have found a use for the kilofoot!
regards Roy
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rob

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #13 on: August 21, 2014, 12:09:27 pm »

Is that kilofoot, related in anyway to Bigfoot. I think we should be told.
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flashtwo

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #14 on: August 21, 2014, 12:26:58 pm »

Hi,

I had a similar experience as RAFLAUNCHES.

I spent my apprenticeship in an old power station where the boilers, being British, were imperial, but the 30MW turbines, being Swiss, were metric.

Every day, when jobs were being issued by the foreman, the mechanics would have to sort out their metric/imperial tools to take out on the job depending whether they were working on the turbine or boiler.

I always remember the confusion one day having taken the wrong feeler gauges to work on the turbine - another job for the "gopfer" (go for this/go for that) to return to the workshop for the correct set.

Another time, at an archaeological dig, the director instructed me to dig a 1 metre 6 inch wide trench!

Ian
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Perkasaman2

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #15 on: August 21, 2014, 01:21:17 pm »

How many kilos do each of us weigh.................  :((
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roycv

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #16 on: August 21, 2014, 02:02:31 pm »

Can't get on with metric weight my self, I am 76 millitons and working to get to 74 millitons.
regards Roy
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GAZOU

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #17 on: August 21, 2014, 02:16:35 pm »

The first time when I am come back from Warwick I runs  on the highway and he wrote " PORTSMOUTH 90 " there, I have time ............. I leaddrive friendly and suddenly I understand that they are miles

I do not run drive any more quietly t. I rose in the ferry in extrémis


UK it is in Europe?   %)
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regiment

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #18 on: August 21, 2014, 02:37:07 pm »

 hi what is 1065mm in inches  got to get a band saw in inches
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roycv

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #19 on: August 21, 2014, 02:39:47 pm »

looks like 42 inches.
Roy
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regiment

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #20 on: August 21, 2014, 02:45:32 pm »

thanks very much  now to try to find some to buy the proxxon ones i would have to own the bank.. not just to use it
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tigertiger

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #21 on: August 21, 2014, 03:02:06 pm »

Can't get on with metric weight my self, I am 76 millitons and working to get to 74 millitons.
regards Roy
Roy, is that short tons or long tons?
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malcolmfrary

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #22 on: August 21, 2014, 05:29:51 pm »

"How much is your 2 by 1?"
"We haven't got any, it's metric.  We have 50mm by 25mm"
"OK, how much is your 50 by 25?"
"20 pence a foot"


And, shortly after decimal day, I was in need of some 1/8" bits for pop riveting some bits of car back on.  I was informed that they were now metric, so I asked for 3.3mm drill bits.  The guy behind the counter used his public address system of stock checking by looking over his shoulder and shouting "Charlie, have we any three point three meter drills?".  And the right items turned up.
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Netleyned

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #23 on: August 21, 2014, 05:33:14 pm »

Roy, is that short tons or long tons?

Or Tonnes :D
Ned
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roycv

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Re: Guide to Imperial Measurents
« Reply #24 on: August 21, 2014, 05:35:56 pm »

Hi Tiger t, unfortunately long tons.  Did you mean a short ton as 1 Mega grams?
regards Roy
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