Lee,
Regarding your question of May 6th at 3.29 a.m.
''Hi, I was hoping someone would be kind enough to briefly describe to me the origin of the line unit of measurement. The conversion is 1 ft. = 480 L, not to be confused with the ell. I can find many references to the ell, but not to the line. I would appreciate any help you can give me. When and where did the line term come from? Thanks for your time.''
The line is only used in the button trade. It is occasionally confused with the ligne or poppyseed. The measurement is often expressed as:
1 inch = 40 lines
1 in. = 40 L
1'' = 40 L
1 line = 1/40 inch
1 L = 1/40 in.
1 L = 1/40''
As to its' origins, because the button trade is part of the cloth trade, it is the span divided by 360, as the circle is divided by 360º. The button trade measurement of the line was in use in the United Kingdom in 1745, but when, where, and who first used it is not known. So it might be considerably older.
1 dt. = 30 L
1 nl.lth. = 90 L
1 span = 360 L
1 ell = 1800 L
1 nl.lth. = 3 dt.
1 span = 12 dt.
1 ell = 60 dt.
The fundamental unit of Common Linear Measure remains the inch, and forms part of the following system:
1 douzieme = 1/12 ligne (or poppyseed)
1 ligne (or poppyseed) = 12 douzieme
1 inch = 12 ligne (or poppyseeds)
1 foot = 12 inches
1'''' = 1/12'''
1''' = 12''''
1'' = 12'''
1' = 12''
More info @
http://www.weights-and-measures.com
And topic:
Common Linear Measure
Fahrenheit Temperature
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