Things were better in the 50s and 60s apparently

HighlandPete · 10-20-2021, 06:30 AM

We still had the "let's make it look cheaper" pricing..

19/11 much better than £1.

JustChris · 10-20-2021, 06:37 AM

God bless units of 10!

HighlandPete · 10-20-2021, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustChris

God bless units of 10!

Totally agree, but there are still folks who want "real money".

lobeydosser · 10-20-2021, 05:52 PM

I tried to explain the Imperial system of measurement for weight, length, etc., to my Italian daughter-in-law who, needless to say, had never heard of them.

She laughed and laughed at the ridiculous set of measurements we oldies had to learn at school and couldn't believe that we still clung to some of them.

I didn't have the heart to tell her about my collection of BA, BSF, Whitworth and AF spanners.....

Chas325 · 10-20-2021, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lobeydosser

I tried to explain the Imperial system of measurement for weight, length, etc., to my Italian daughter-in-law who, needless to say, had never heard of them.

She laughed and laughed at the ridiculous set of measurements we oldies had to learn at school and couldn't believe that we still clung to some of them.

I didn't have the heart to tell her about my collection of BA, BSF, Whitworth and AF spanners.....

Moving to US this time last year i can tell you it's a pain to learn if you have never used it! how is measuring wood and stuff even a thing in inches? and 16th of inches too - 10 and 11/16th of a inch. argh!

isleaiw1 · 10-21-2021, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chas325

Moving to US this time last year i can tell you it's a pain to learn if you have never used it! how is measuring wood and stuff even a thing in inches? and 16th of inches too - 10 and 11/16th of a inch. argh!

Its got to be better than measuring distance in centimetres for some things, but feet for others, miles for longer distance and miles per hour for speed....

And who wants bloody KGs. I'm 5ft 11 and 15 stone. Job done.

(yep, fat bastard, but happily!)

allachie9 · 10-21-2021, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lobeydosser

I tried to explain the Imperial system of measurement for weight, length, etc., to my Italian daughter-in-law who, needless to say, had never heard of them.

She laughed and laughed at the ridiculous set of measurements we oldies had to learn at school and couldn't believe that we still clung to some of them.

I didn't have the heart to tell her about my collection of BA, BSF, Whitworth and AF spanners.....

Until 2014, distances on our railways were measured in miles, furlongs and chains.
I worked with these throughout my railway career.

HighlandPete · 10-21-2021, 06:17 AM

It is strange when you have used both systems, and both still get used in the same conversation.

Goes something like; "Yes, I'll make it about 3 feet long, make it out of 16mm board".

Or... Me; "How thick would you like the slice of cheese, about 12mm?" The reply; "How thick?" Me; "About 1/2 an inch". Reply "Yes, that's fine".

KRS_SN · 10-21-2021, 06:23 AM

check someone's weight..seca electronicscale ... reading is 54kg
question to me from said someone 'how much is that in old money'
me heads to the computer to check and convert using Google.
it's a bugbear.

isleaiw1 · 10-21-2021, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

check someone's weight..seca electronicscale ... reading is 54kg
question to me from said someone 'how much is that in old money'
me heads to the computer to check and convert using Google.
it's a bugbear.

8 and a half stone, its not hard. Multiply by 2.2, divide by 14 and then convert the decimal after the point into roughly how many of 14!

KRS_SN · 10-21-2021, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

check someone's weight..seca electronicscale ... reading is 54kg
question to me from said someone 'how much is that in old money'
me heads to the computer to check and convert using Google.
it's a bugbear.

8 and a half stone, its not hard. Multiply by 2.2, divide by 14 and then convert the decimal after the point into roughly how many of 14!

The score of 33% in arithmetic in my final secondary exam and the look on my teachers face of resignation and frustration each time she saw me comes to mind. Thanks for the tip though.

HighlandPete · 10-21-2021, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

8 and a half stone, its not hard. Multiply by 2.2, divide by 14 and then convert the decimal after the point into roughly how many of 14!

Centigrade to Fahrenheit... Ignoring Google

I must say I'm stuck.. I'd have to look it up, to do it the old 'mathematics' way.

MashinBenzin · 10-21-2021, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Quote:

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

8 and a half stone, its not hard. Multiply by 2.2, divide by 14 and then convert the decimal after the point into roughly how many of 14!

Centigrade to Fahrenheit... Ignoring Google

I must say I'm stuck.. I'd have to look it up, to do it the old 'mathematics' way.

All I ever understand with F is 80 hot, 90 very hot, 100 too hot.

isleaiw1 · 10-21-2021, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Centigrade to Fahrenheit... Ignoring Google

I must say I'm stuck.. I'd have to look it up, to do it the old 'mathematics' way.

28 is 82... so from there its about 1 to 2 relationship...

or double it and add something around 30 is my best guess....

HighlandPete · 10-21-2021, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

28 is 82... so from there its about 1 to 2 relationship...

or double it and add something around 30 is my best guess....

From an accountant... that's just not good enough.

Degrees Fahrenheit = (°C x 1.8) + 32
Degrees Centigrade = (°F - 32) x 0.56

JustChris · 10-21-2021, 08:44 AM

Missile Crisis were better back then?

HighlandPete · 10-21-2021, 08:45 AM

Any of our older engineers remember having your 'Zeus' at hand?

Note how mine is the Metric Revision.

isleaiw1 · 10-21-2021, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

From an accountant... that's just not good enough.

Degrees Fahrenheit = (°C x 1.8) + 32
Degrees Centigrade = (°F - 32) x 0.56

Given I understand MashinBenzin approach, I only need rough conversion. 20s - t shirt. teens - sweatshirt. single digits - coat. minus - thick coat. About 30 - go for a ride in the air conditioned car.

HighlandPete · 10-21-2021, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustChris

Missile Crisis were better back then?

Cuban crisis ... was a scary time... so close to another world conflict.

Don't forget rationing of fuel in the early 50's and for the slightly younger ones, the 70's fuel crisis.

Blacktemplar · 10-21-2021, 08:54 AM

Better? My arse....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58625427

My dad helped dig people out of the rubble. My school pals lost parents. It was a couple of weeks after my 9th birthday and I can still remember it vividly. No-one was ever held properly to account.

In other "isn't life great in the 50's/60's" news we had smallpox, scarlet fever, measles, thalidomide, Suez, Korea, rickets, everyone smoked, no seatbelts.

Rose-tinted testicles indeed.

1 AKY · 10-21-2021, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Centigrade to Fahrenheit... Ignoring Google

I must say I'm stuck.. I'd have to look it up, to do it the old 'mathematics' way.

I just know it as: multiply by 9, divide by 5, add 32

MashinBenzin · 10-21-2021, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blacktemplar

Better? My arse....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58625427

My dad helped dig people out of the rubble. My school pals lost parents. It was a couple of weeks after my 9th birthday and I can still remember it vividly. No-one was ever held properly to account.

In other "isn't life great in the 50's/60's" news we had smallpox, scarlet fever, measles, thalidomide, Suez, Korea, rickets, everyone smoked, no seatbelts.

Rose-tinted testicles indeed.

Wow. Forgotten disaster indeed, I'd never heard of that one. Sounds like the public enquiry was a disgrace of a whitewash.

10-20-2021, 06:30 AM	#45
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	We still had the "let's make it look cheaper" pricing.. 19/11 much better than £1.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-20-2021, 06:37 AM	#46
JustChris General 17488 Rep 25,113 Posts Drives: Tesla MYRWD Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	God bless units of 10! __________________ My car made front page of Bimmerpost
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-20-2021, 05:52 PM	#48
lobeydosser Second Lieutenant 105 Rep 251 Posts Drives: 320d auto active suspension Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	I tried to explain the Imperial system of measurement for weight, length, etc., to my Italian daughter-in-law who, needless to say, had never heard of them. She laughed and laughed at the ridiculous set of measurements we oldies had to learn at school and couldn't believe that we still clung to some of them. I didn't have the heart to tell her about my collection of BA, BSF, Whitworth and AF spanners..... __________________
	Appreciate 2 agentorange1507.50 Techno 9000518.00 Quote

10-21-2021, 06:17 AM	#52
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	It is strange when you have used both systems, and both still get used in the same conversation. Goes something like; "Yes, I'll make it about 3 feet long, make it out of 16mm board". Or... Me; "How thick would you like the slice of cheese, about 12mm?" The reply; "How thick?" Me; "About 1/2 an inch". Reply "Yes, that's fine".
	Appreciate 3 allachie91334.00 lobeydosser105.00 agentorange1507.50 Quote

10-21-2021, 06:23 AM	#53
KRS_SN Major General 13519 Rep 5,209 Posts Drives: IX,G07 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 X7 [10.00] X5 [8.50] IX [8.00]	check someone's weight..seca electronicscale ... reading is 54kg question to me from said someone 'how much is that in old money' me heads to the computer to check and convert using Google. it's a bugbear.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-21-2021, 08:44 AM	#60
JustChris General 17488 Rep 25,113 Posts Drives: Tesla MYRWD Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Missile Crisis were better back then? __________________ My car made front page of Bimmerpost
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-21-2021, 08:45 AM	#61
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	Any of our older engineers remember having your 'Zeus' at hand? Note how mine is the Metric Revision. Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-21-2021, 08:54 AM	#64
Blacktemplar Brigadier General 3481 Rep 3,691 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Better? My arse.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58625427 My dad helped dig people out of the rubble. My school pals lost parents. It was a couple of weeks after my 9th birthday and I can still remember it vividly. No-one was ever held properly to account. In other "isn't life great in the 50's/60's" news we had smallpox, scarlet fever, measles, thalidomide, Suez, Korea, rickets, everyone smoked, no seatbelts. Rose-tinted testicles indeed.
	Appreciate 3 MashinBenzin8454.50 allachie91334.00 agentorange1507.50 Quote