The big difference in the electric terminology and installation regulations and practice in each country!

[Cbelectrics]

Double entry . See happens to the best of us.

 

[littlespark]

I’ve had a quick read, and see an awful lot of “could be the reason” or “one theory” or whatever.
Nothing 100% to say that confusion between metric and imperial was definately THE only factor.

There’s one in there about Big Ben the bell being built…. (Whew!). Way before metric was taken up…
And of course, the media- even bbc- can embellish the truth somewhat to make their articles seem more important.

 

[Cbelectrics]

I’ve had a quick read, and see an awful lot of “could be the reason” or “one theory” or whatever.
Nothing 100% to say that confusion between metric and imperial was definately THE only factor.

There’s one in there about Big Ben the bell being built…. (Whew!). Way before metric was taken up…
And of course, the media- even bbc- can embellish the truth somewhat to make their articles seem more important.

That was just an example, think it’s just lazy source confirmation and editing to cover their arse writing the article. The nasa issue was factually correct. So too was a flight from canada and running out of fuel.

Many other factual examples as well as theoretical ones.

 

[brianmoooore]

One thing I don't understand is why it's still almost impossible to find a tape measure in the UK that doesn't have imperial measurements on it alongside the metric ones, some 50+ years after we 'went metric'. A tape measure that you can't use either way up dives me nuts.

 

[pc1966]

I think it is for cheapness, so they can sell the same model to both old and young customers, and in the USA, etc, where metric is still a bit of a novelty.

 

[brianmoooore]

I checked out every tape on offer at the recent Exeter Elex/Toolfair, and found just all metric one - a 5m Stanley, although another supplier sais they would be selling them in the UK 'soon'.

 

[nicebutdim]

One thing I don't understand is why it's still almost impossible to find a tape measure in the UK that doesn't have imperial measurements on it alongside the metric ones, some 50+ years after we 'went metric'. A tape measure that you can't use either way up dives me nuts.

I know a few people who bought metric only tapes and generally they regretted doing so.

Milwaukee make a couple, which is ironic for a brand that used to be American.

 

[brianmoooore]

I've brought them back from Europe for about the last 30 years, but now, as a result of Covid restrictions and now an extremely aged dog, I've been unable to leave the country for the last three and a half years, and my stock has run out.
I brought back three in 2019, and what I thought was the second one, broke the end of the tape about a month ago. Couldn't find the third one anywhere, hence the search at Toolfair.
About a week and a half ago, while looking for something else, I came across an almost pristine all metric tape - just the bit with the measurements on, neatly coiled up, on a shelf, bound up with green/yellow PVC tape. In an instant, it all came back to me. Tape #2 had been a dud, with the spring securing post breaking after about a week of use, and the one that had just failed was #3 out of 3.
I had totally forgotten that I had saved the nearly new tape, so a few minutes later I had fitted it into #3, and am back in business again with a tape I like the 'feel' of (unlike the new Stanley, which has a very wide tape.)