Thread: Escher question

I think I found the issue. The old German "zoll" unit originated before the standardization of units between countries. So it could have originally been some arbitrary number "close" to an actual inch but not exactly correct. Over time it was corrected to the actual inch. At the time the ad on page 2 was created it should have been correct. See link for more info:

Zoll (Pre-metric Prussian) | Units of Measurement Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia

Every region in Europe used to have its own slightly different units. Both the Zoll and the inch are based on the width of a man's thumb. Napoleon introduced metric system in Continental Europe. The UK held on to its own units until recently.

Originally Posted by Kees

Every region in Europe used to have its own slightly different units. Both the Zoll and the inch are based on the width of a man's thumb. Napoleon introduced metric system in Continental Europe. The UK held on to its own units until recently.

Going along with that, I read that the "rule of thumb" was that when you beat your wife the stick couldn't be thicker than your thumb. A good rule. This is probably true because I read it on the internet.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Going along with that, I read that the "rule of thumb" was that when you beat your wife the stick couldn't be thicker than your thumb. A good rule. This is probably true because I read it on the internet.

Yup, famous quote from one of your past Presidents:

"Not everything you read on the internet is true." - Abe Lincoln

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Going along with that, I read that the "rule of thumb" was that when you beat your wife the stick couldn't be thicker than your thumb. A good rule. This is probably true because I read it on the internet.

A woman, a dog, and a walnut tree, the more you beat them the better they be.

Originally Posted by Kees

Every region in Europe used to have its own slightly different units. Both the Zoll and the inch are based on the width of a man's thumb. Napoleon introduced metric system in Continental Europe. The UK held on to its own units until recently.

This wasn't just how it was in Europe, it was like this everywhere in the world. When the units of measure originated, sophistication of measuring equipment and standards were obviously very low. Even an inch in England where the unit originated would vary quite a bit.

Basically even after they tried to create "standards" they would often be making copies of copies of copies etc. which led to significant errors. Before they created any realistic standards it was often based on the length of an arm, foot or thumb etc. of the presiding monarch - which often was changed with every new one.

This is why even into the 1900's, mating parts that had to have a close fit needed to be machined or hand finished with the mating part close at hand.

Even though metric came into being in the UK if I remember correctly around 1969 at the time I was 10 years old and up until then I was taught in imperial measurement, even to this day I'm still programmed think think in pounds & ounces feet & inches I can work with metric and most of the time I use both although I'm 100% pounds & ounces when it comes to weights.

http://www.metric.org.uk/uk-metric-time-line