on 2003-06-15 01.35, Joseph B. Reid at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I think Chris is suffering from the BSI attempt to eliminate deci-, > centi-, deca- and hecto-. This led BSI to publish a picture of a > bathing beauty with her dimensions quoted in millimetres. That is > pracical for engineering but not for tailoring, and other trades. In > France the centilitre is the well-established unit for retail wine, > while the hectolitre is used in the wholesale wine trade.
Dear Joe, Thanks for that information. I was unaware of this campaign by the BSI. I am aware, however, of the strongly held views by proponents of millimetres vs centimetres. To add some data to this discussion, I went to an Australian government web page: (http://www.workplace.gov.au/Workplace/WPDisplay/0,1280,a3%253D3589%2526a0%2 53D0%2526a1%253D517%2526a2%253D529,00.html ) where they have a 'Skilled Occupations List (SOL). >From their list of 149 skilled occupations, I removed all the 'Supervisors' as they were duplicates. I then added my asessment of the predominant units used in each occupation. I only did this with the occupations where I had certain personal knowledge of each particular occupation. Where I did not know the predominant unit, I put a question mark. I then sorted them by the frequency of the predominant units. The tally is: millimetres 88 occupations cm and inches 11 occupations cm, feet and inches 6 occupations Unknown 7 occupations I have attached the whole list below preceded by the dominant units in each occupation. As I have observed before, the transition to metrication occurs relatively smoothly and rapidly when an occupation chooses millimetres as their small unit, and it progresses pitifully slowly where centimetres are chosen. You will notice that all of the occupations who chose to use centimetres are still struggling with inches and/or feet, even after 33 years of metrication (so far). Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Geelong, Australia mm Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) mm Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) mm Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) mm Automotive Electrician mm Binder and Finisher mm Blacksmith mm Boat Builder and Repairer mm Bricklayer mm Broadcast Transmitter Operator mm Business Machine Mechanic mm Cabinetmaker mm Cable Jointer mm Carpenter mm Carpenter and Joiner mm Communications Linesperson mm Computing Support Technician mm Dental Technician mm Drainer mm Electrical Engineering Technician mm Electrical Powerline Tradesperson mm Electrician (Special Class) mm Electronic Engineering Technician mm Electronic Equipment Tradesperson mm Electronic Instrument Tradesperson (Special Class) mm Electroplater mm Engraver mm Farrier mm Fibrous Plasterer mm Fitter mm Flat Glass Tradesperson mm Floor Finisher mm Furniture Finisher mm Furniture Upholsterer mm Gasfitter mm Gem Cuter and Polisher mm General Communications Tradesperson mm General Electrician mm General Electronic Instrument Tradesperson mm General Fabrication Engineering Tradesperson mm General Mechanical Engineering Tradesperson mm General Plumber mm Glass Blower mm Graphic Pre-Press Tradesperson mm Greenkeeper mm Gunsmith mm Jeweller mm Joiner mm Leather Goods Maker mm Lift Mechanic mm Locksmith mm Mechanical Engineering Technician mm Mechanical Services and Airconditioning Plumber mm Medical Grade Shoemaker mm Metal Casting Tradesperson mm Metal Fabricator (Boilermaker) mm Metal Machinist (First Class) mm Metal Polisher mm Motor Mechanic mm Optical Mechanic mm Painter and Decorator mm Panel Beater mm Patternmaker-Grader (Clothing) mm Piano maker mm Piano Tune mm Precision Instrument Maker and Repairer mm Pressure Welder mm Printing Machinist mm Refrigeration and Airconditioning Mechanic mm Roof Plumber mm Roof Slater and Tiler mm Saw Maker and Repairer mm Sheetmetal Worker (First Class) mm Shipwright mm Shoemaker mm Signwriter mm Solid Plasterer mm Stonemason mm Textile, Clothing or Footwear Mechanic mm Toolmaker mm Upholsterers and Bedding Tradespersons (nec) mm Vehicle Body Maker mm Vehicle Painter mm Vehicle Trimmer mm Wall and Floor Tiler mm Watch and Clock Maker and Repairer mm Welder (First Class) mm Wood Tradesperson (nec) mm Wood Turner cm and inches Apparel Cutter cm and inches Baker cm and inches Chef cm and inches Chef � Head Chef cm and inches Cook cm and inches Dressmaker cm and inches General Clothing Tradesperson cm and inches Pastry Cook cm and inches Picture Framer cm and inches Sail Maker cm and inches Screen Printer cm and inches Small Offset Printer cm and inches Tailor cm, feet and inches Canvas Goods Maker cm, feet and inches General Gardener cm, feet and inches Head Gardener cm, feet and inches Landscape Gardener cm, feet and inches Nurseryperson cm, feet and inches Tree Surgeon ? Butcher ? Buttermaker or Cheesemaker ? Confectioner ? Hairdresser ? Smallgoods Maker ? Supervisor, Hairdressers ? Supervisor, Meat Tradespersons
