Socket head cap screws

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John Hasler
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by John Hasler »

> The US has held steadfast with the Imperial system, but then, has it, really?

The US has never used the British Imperial system. The Imperial system was created by act of Parliament in 1824, long after the US Customary system was well established. Since 1893 US units have been defined in terms of metric units. Metric units have been legal for trade in the US since the 1860s.

> The US gallon is not the same as the British gallon. Are they both considered Imperial?

No. The US gallon is the US gallon, defined as 3.785411784 liters. The Imperial gallon is 4.54609 liters.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... mary_units

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_units
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mklotz
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by mklotz »

Harold_V wrote: Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:56 pm...
Another interesting thought. We often discuss imperial versus metric. The US has held steadfast with the Imperial system, but then, has it, really? The US gallon is not the same as the British gallon. Are they both considered Imperial?...
The system used in the USA is termed "US Customary Units"...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... mary_units

although I prefer 'inferial', my portmanteau of 'inferior' (or 'infernal' or 'infuriating') and 'Imperial'. It describes both the origin of our stupid system and what I think of it.
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mcostello
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by mcostello »

Inferial or Smellameters it's all just numbers. :)
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Harold_V
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by Harold_V »

Thanks, guys. We (apparently) "borrowed", for lack of a better term, many of the same units of measure that were adapted as the Imperial System by the UK.

Maybe I should have paid attention to my history classes! :oops:

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mklotz
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by mklotz »

Were it not for Caribbean pirates, we (Usonians) would be using the metric system today. Thomas Jefferson, arguably our most intelligent president, when secretary of state under Washington, realized the need for a single, sensible measurement system for the USA. He attempted to introduce the metric system then under development in France but the weather conspired against him and, sadly, we ended up with the stupid hodge-podge of the inferial system.

You can read a more detailed account of all this here...

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way ... ric-system
Regards, Marv

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NP317
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by NP317 »

I'm with Ben Franklin on this subject.
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RONALD
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by RONALD »

Here is a great book on measurement, I highly recommend it.

It even has units like Twaddell in it.

Did you know the Cubit ran from 17.48 inches to 25.24 inches depending on which middle east country you measured in?

As Physics Department Chairman, I bought each teacher a copy.

Whether they actually read or referred to it is an unknown, it was their loss if they did not.

https://www.amazon.com/World-Measuremen ... 0671215655

The Cubit was defined as the distance from the edge of your elbow to your longest finger.

Originally to start measuring with the Cubit, you first stuck up your arm at the elbow, then extend the second finger, holding all other fingers down!
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Steggy
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by Steggy »

RONALD wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:56 pmThe Cubit was defined as the distance from the edge of your elbow to your longest finger.
Imagine if Wilt Chamberlain had been around when it was decided that's how big a cubit would be. :D
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rudd
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by rudd »

Long time ago, I worked with an outfit that did surveying in Texas. Due to legal requirements, some properties had to be measured in Varas, because that's what the Spanish had used for land grants. And of course, now, the vara is defined by a metric measurement.
https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measu ... rd-history
Russ Hanscom
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by Russ Hanscom »

Most interesting, and even the vara was not standard.
SteveM
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by SteveM »

BigDumbDinosaur wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 12:14 am
RONALD wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:56 pmThe Cubit was defined as the distance from the edge of your elbow to your longest finger.
Imagine if Wilt Chamberlain had been around when it was decided that's how big a cubit would be. :D
The ark would have been a LOT bigger.

Steve
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Re: Socket head cap screws

Post by atunguyd »

SteveM wrote:
BigDumbDinosaur wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 12:14 am
RONALD wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:56 pmThe Cubit was defined as the distance from the edge of your elbow to your longest finger.
Imagine if Wilt Chamberlain had been around when it was decided that's how big a cubit would be. :D
The ark would have been a LOT bigger.

Steve
Yep and then it would have managed to fit the dinosaurs on it and save them too [emoji23][emoji23]

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