Standards with unusual origins

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Neil quickly 'called my bluff' regarding 'tads' …

This one, however, is amazing-but-true, so I think it's a good starter: We should collect a few interesting units, scales, etc.

[the quote is from p79 of 'Days at the Factories' – published 1843]

https://archive.org/details/daysatfactories00doddgoog

MichaelG.

 

Vinegar is known by certain numbers, such as No. 18, 20, 22, and 24. These originally represented the number of pence per gallon at which the vinegar was sold; and although the price no longer accords with these numbers, the numbers themselves have been retained as symbols whereby a certain quality of vinegar may be known and designated. Vinegar pays to government a duty of 2d for every gallon of ‘proof’; proof being deemed that degree of strength which contains five per cent. of pure acetic acid, as ascertained by an instrument called an ‘acetometer’ which acts on the principle of determining the specific gravity of the vinegar when saturated with hydrate of lime, and deducing the acetic strength therefrom.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 14/09/2016 20:13:10

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Please keep this one truthful …

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