Nickname for CMP cwt trucks

[rob love]

I have heard "carrot weight", and a few other interpretations from people who did not know what the cwt stood for.

[Lynn Eades]

Rob, I work in the road transport industry. My boss (workshop manager) the other day, asked me how to write "1/8 th" I bet he wouldn't have a clue about the cwt.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I bet he wouldn't have a clue about the cwt.

I bet they don't teach Latin in schools anymore, that's why nobody knows anything older than the Y2K Bug.

The ancient Roman basic unit of mass was the "Weight", the Latin word for which was "Libra". This was divided into 12 units called "Twelfths", the word being "Uncia" (in English, this became Ounce). The basic unit of length was the Pes (or "Foot", plural Pedes:Feet). A Twelfth of a Foot was also called an Uncia, but this translated to Inch.

The Roman numeral for One Hundred was the letter "C". So a Hundred Weight is C Wt, or Cwt. How this became 112lbs is another story.

Oh, and "Libra" is also the source of the abbreviation Lb for pound, and also for "‎£" for Pound Sterling. In fact " ‎£, s and d" in old English currency all derive from Roman currency "Libra (of Gold), Solidus (1/64 of a Lb), and Denarius (1/96 of a Lb)". Naturally, a Pound weight of Gold was a massive amount of money rarely seen by the average Roman. Don't think there were many "Poundshops" back in the day.

This system lasted nearly 2000 years in Britain, how quickly we forget for the simplicity of Decimal Currency and Weights and Measures.

And more Pub-Trivia winning useless information. The Thompson Sub Machine Gun originally had 3 options for ammunition magazines, officially called the XX, L and C Mags. Anyone know why?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

20, 50 and 100 round mags...

But don’t ask me about British pounds, shillings and pence (£sd)

[Ed Storey]

In keeping with the Roman theme, perhaps indicating the capacity, 20, 50 and 100 rounds.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Naturally, a Pound weight of Gold was a massive amount of money rarely seen by the average Roman.

My mistake, of course it wasn't a "Pound of Gold", it was a Pound of Silver. Hence: Pound Sterling.

[Lynn Eades]

I just have to do this:
"It's a Thompson, not a Sterling"
While you're at it Tony, you should cover:
Bushells, Furlongs, BTUs, Troy weight, Tons, Tonnes, Firkins.
Then, there is a: Short cwt, a long cwt, a net cwt, a gross cwt.
(life used to be simple)

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

(life used to be simple)

Or should that be: A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum?

[Mike Cecil]

Cubit, Hand, US Gallon, Imperial Gallon, US Ton/short ton (2000 lbs), Imperial or long ton (2,240 lb), and lets not forget 'Bakers dozen'!!

Not long after metrication in Australia, I was at the hardware store and overheard a builder asking for a quantity of '3 metre 4x2s' .....

Mike

[Robin Grainger]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I just have to do this:
"It's a Thompson, not a Sterling"
While you're at it Tony, you should cover:
Bushells, Furlongs, BTUs, Troy weight, Tons, Tonnes, Firkins.
Then, there is a: Short cwt, a long cwt, a net cwt, a gross cwt.
(life used to be simple)

Rods, poles, perches. A cloth yard (length of an arrow) Bakers dozen?