I was wondering if anyone had information regarding use of the gallon for petrol in Canada before metrication. When driving across the border, would the gallon suddenly grow/shrink? Did signs specify which gallon was being used? Or were you just expected to know that one was a fifth smaller than the other. If anyone remembers then let me know, because I live in the south and I haven't been near the Canadian border recently.

... or do they become litres? (which are the same size no matter where yu are in the world).

The price of petrol at Niagra Falls (Canadian side) is

August 21st, 2002 08:19 AM 72.0 cents per litre
July 31st, 2002 09:39 PM 71.7 cents per litre
July 29th, 2002 07:37 PM 71.7 cents per litre
July 26th, 2002 11:50 AM 71.7 cents per litre
June 08th, 2002 03:49 PM 62.0 cents per litre


(This is a random sample from the web). Note - the price is in litres

I'm talking about before they became liters, whenever that was.

Prior to 1984 (approx) Canadian petrol stations used the UK gallon.

Canada, due to, in some respects an unfortunate american influence ( ;-D ), often now uses the Yank gallon.

btw, common gallons are not all that hot, what we need is my idea for a common floz of 1.75 cuin.

Is Bud wiser now?

But is this information of any use to him, since it appearws that petrol is sold by the litre in Canada?

I'm talking about before they became liters, whenever that was.




BWMA
Re: Re: Re: Re: Candian gallons December 5 2002, 6:27 PM


Prior to 1984 (approx) Canadian petrol stations used the UK gallon.



Canada changed to litre pricing for gasoline in January 1981.

See: http://members.shaw.ca/gw.peterson/timeline.html

Bud,
Since your question never got answered, and this thread has been brought back from the dead, I used to cut through Canada when driving between Detroit and Boston for many years, mostly before they went metric.

<<When driving across the border, would the gallon suddenly grow/shrink?>>
Yes.

<<Did signs specify which gallon was being used?>>
No. But between the larger gallon and the smaller dollar (and higher taxes), it was quite obvious that something was seriously wrong with the price. That made you think it out. Also some places had a sign for their exchange rate on US currency, some didn't.

<<Or were you just expected to know that one was a fifth smaller than the other.>>
You were expected to know. Customary on the US side, Imperial on the Canadian.

Yes I guess it should be as daft as someone thinking "$" on one side of the boundary was equivilent to "$" on the other.

Danny would need clear instructions though because he likes to mix things up that have the same name.

*Insert hose
*Squeeze lever
*Pay piper

Precisley - but that's lost on some of "this lot" who think that someone filling up would actually notice litres, liters, gallons or oogle-boogles.

Mine does 7 oogle-boogles to the hompton-fletcher, by the way.

<<<Precisley - but that's lost on some of "this lot" who think that someone filling up would actually notice litres, liters, gallons or oogle-boogles.>>>

I'm intrigued.

Why is it, when you buy petrol you don't notice or care what the units are - yet when you buy fruit and veg you make a big song and dance about the units?

<<Precisely - but that's lost on some of "this lot" who think that someone filling up would actually notice litres, liters, gallons or oogle-boogles.
>>

Haven't you ever had your car take (considerably) more fuel than expected based on fuel tank size and how empty it was? I have and have promptly called the state inspectors to see if station was selling short measure. Customers need to be unit aware. (Of course they also need to be aware that fuel gages are quite inaccurate and only general indicators of the state of the tank. A discrepancy needs to be pretty big to be noteworthy.)

"Why is it, when you buy petrol you don't notice or care what the units are - yet when you buy fruit and veg you make a big song and dance about the units?"

With fruit and vegetables you may find a hand marked sign in old units and claim that is how they are sold to you. You can't do that with petrol when the number of litres are staring you in the face and no gallon pricing is present. But like the scales at the deli and the till that do display the actual sale units, as well as the gasoline pumps, you can look the other way and claim you don't see the litres or kilograms. If you don't see the litres or kilograms, they don't exist. If you eradicate out the metric on signs then you can also claim metric doesn't exist on the roads either. Blind yourself to metric and it doesn't exist.

<<
(Of course they also need to be aware that fuel gages are quite inaccurate and only general indicators of the state of the tank. A discrepancy needs to be pretty big to be noteworthy.)
>>

Of course, a knowledge of the size of one's fuel tank is also quite useful. For example, I wuld be concerend if the pump showed that I had bought 60 litres of fuel for my VW GOlf (tank size = 50 litres).

It's great to finally get an answer to my question. I guess better late than never. Thanks, John.

Stimpy - I'm waiting for your reply to my question ;-)

"Why is it, when you buy petrol you don't notice or care what the units are - yet when you buy fruit and veg you make a big song and dance about the units?"

You won't get an answer from him. But, the answer I gave is the right one. Or do you already know that and are just waiting to hear it from the horses mouth? In that case, you will be waiting an eternity.

<<<You won't get an answer from him. But, the answer I gave is the right one. Or do you already know that and are just waiting to hear it from the horses mouth? In that case, you will be waiting an eternity.>>>

I am not interested in an answer from a pro-metric point of view. I am interested in an answer from a pro-imperial point of view and from Steve especially because he says the units he buys his petrol don't concern him because he just fills the tank, pays for it and leaves. I want to know why it is any different when you buy fruit and veg.

Don't worry he will answer.

What if I'd gone on holiday for 2 weeks?

;-)

Actually the proxy server has been down all day.

My answer:

I don't go to the deli and "fill up" - you actually need to ask for a quantity of some sort, be it measurement or pieces.

At the petrol station I do not serve my selve in gallons, litres or anything like that.

I use the following:

"£"

Does that answer it?

Interesting to see that you think Danny boy is pro-metric, btw ;-)

<<<Does that answer it?>>>

I suppose so. It still baffles me that having to ask for "a kilo" instead of "two pounds" really makes so much difference to your life, but I get the idea...

<<<Interesting to see that you think Danny boy is pro-metric, btw ;-)>>>

Is he not? I really don't know...

<<
I suppose so. It still baffles me that having to ask for "a kilo" instead of "two pounds" really makes so much difference to your life, but I get the idea...>>>

I've never asked for 2 lbs - either 1/4, half or a pound.

<<<Interesting to see that you think Danny boy is pro-metric, btw ;-)>>>
<<Is he not? I really don't know...>>

I'd hate for him to be on "my side" if you know what I mean ;-)
Give me XCOLE anyday!

I wonder *how is* old euric these days?

<<
I suppose so. It still baffles me that having to ask for "a kilo" instead of "two pounds" really makes so much difference to your life, but I get the idea...>>>

"I've never asked for 2 lbs - either 1/4, half or a pound."


Do you turn your head away from the scale so you don't see how many grams it shows in the display? When you ask for a quarter or half pound, what does the scale display actually show? How do you know the amount dispensed is the amount asked for unless you see the numbers on the display?

When they package the product and affix a label, do you look at it to verify the amount is correct, or because it is metric do you refuse to look at it?


This is a perfect example of pretending something does not exist by not looking at it. If you don't see it, it isn't there.

[dust dust] [blow]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=209958&messageid=1113562667&lp=1113823659

Heh! Got the picture!

X-D

The questions that were asked were not answered. The reason they weren't answered was because the person to whom they were directed could not answer them in truth without having to admit that no matter what you ask for, you will always get metric.

The truth being, that the scales visible to the customer are metric, the label affixed to the product is metric and the sale takes place in metric.

Don't bother admitting the truth, we all know it no matter what you say or how much you avoid it.

<<The truth being, that the scales visible to the customer are metric, the label affixed to the product is metric and the sale takes place in metric. >>

I'm actually starting to think you really believe that now - that you have actually convinced yourself of it!

ROTFL!!

X-D

X-D

http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=209958&messageid=1113562667&lp=1113823659


Perfect!

"I've never asked for 2 lbs - either 1/4, half or a pound."

so rounding to 100g, 250g and 500g would be no good? The amount of whatever it is you're buying must be extremely critical

You must be very popular with the Tesco deli staff ;-)

<<The amount of whatever it is you're buying must be extremely critical>>


Herein lies a situation that sometimes renders these arguments daft.

If I wanted a pound of bananas - would I have to cut one of them to get a lb?

If I ordered 100g of cheese and I got "a little over" would I be unhappy that I'd got a pound?

If I took out all the sausages from a 1lb/ 454g pack and weighed them would I get exaclty that amount?

If I measured my ColdPlay album.......


yeah, I hear you, ... "don't go there"

;-)

<<<Herein lies a situation that sometimes renders these arguments daft.>>>

My point exactly!! So why does it matter to you so much?

"OK I usually ask for half a pound. The shop now weighs stuff in grams. Whats that in grams? About 250g"

"Can I have 250 grams of cheese please?"

....Is it really THAT hard?

Most people ask for and talk in pounds, Andy.

That is the issue - the right to do that without interference from a foreign influence.

What is wrong with asking for a pound of something?

Hey, better still, lets have it so that people can ask for a pound or a kilo! Now *that's* radical!

[BTW - no-one noticed my calculative error in my last post]

<<<Most people ask for and talk in pounds, Andy.>>>

That is simply not true anymore, Steve. Almost everyone I hear asks for stuff in metric. Allowing for a bit of bias on both our parts, lets say that some people talk in pounds and some talk in grams.

<<<That is the issue - the right to do that without interference from a foreign influence.>>>

Believe it or not, I do understand that point (assuming by foreign influence you mean "the government" and not "the EU")

I just place less importance on my right to choose the units I buy something in.

<<<What is wrong with asking for a pound of something?>>>

Nothing, and you can continue to do so. But it will make life easier for the shop staff if you ask for it in the units they weigh it in.

<<That is simply not true anymore, Steve. Almost everyone I hear asks for stuff in metric. Allowing for a bit of bias on both our parts, lets say that some people talk in pounds and some talk in grams.>>

When hearing normal people (ie not us on a discussion board) you'll be surprised how little has changed. Just because "its been a longer while now that metric has been there" does not mean people will change the way they talk. I implore you to listen to people actually at the counter.
Remember when I told you about what I picked up to be a natural skill amongst the female fraternity to "see" what a pound, or ounce looks like? That even surprised me.

But I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on our perspectives.

<<Believe it or not, I do understand that point (assuming by foreign influence you mean "the government" and not "the EU") >>

I mean both - since these days its getting less clear where all our laws (/ directives) are coming from!!

<<I just place less importance on my right to choose the units I buy something in. >>

There's my libertarian streak!


<<Nothing, and you can continue to do so. But it will make life easier for the shop staff if you ask for it in the units they weigh it in.>>

I am the customer - they get paid to make my life easy - not the other way around.
And don't blame the stores, or the servers - blame the legislation (from?) that actually brought about this proposterous scenario where people can (and do) ask in imperial whilst behind the scenes a conversion factor has to be worked into the transaction just to satisfy the daft law that no-one asked for.

<<< I implore you to listen to people actually at the counter.>>>

well obviously that was what I was talking about. Admittedly my local market stall doesn't show imperial prices, so that might not be a fair representation, but at the deli in Sainsbury's I find myself listening occasionally to the other customers and I hear a mixture

<<<Remember when I told you about what I picked up to be a natural skill amongst the female fraternity to "see" what a pound, or ounce looks like? >>>

Don't you think that skill might not be entirely natural, and more something that is learned by experience?! i.e if someone male or female is used to a certain weight of something, of course they will "see" what it looks like!

<<<But I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on our perspectives.>>>

The difference being that I concede that I am biased and am able to compromise, admitting that the truth lies somewhere between our observations. You on the other hand, seem utterly convinced that hardly anyone uses metric.

<<<I am the customer - they get paid to make my life easy - not the other way around.>>>

and if I am standing behind you in the queue, I am also a customer, and I don't want to wait ages to be served because the bloke in front is making issues over how they weigh his mince!

<<<And don't blame the stores, or the servers - blame the legislation (from?) that actually brought about this proposterous scenario where people can (and do) ask in imperial whilst behind the scenes a conversion factor has to be worked into the transaction just to satisfy the daft law that no-one asked for.>>>

To be honest, the only people I blame are the narrow-minded ones who refuse to make a miniscule adjustment to their shopping habits out of pure stubbornness.

The only reason some/many people still ask for stuff in pounds/ounces is because the price per pound/ounce is still there! That is the reason for the 2010 regulations - so that the conversion factor is not needed.

<<Don't you think that skill might not be entirely natural, and more something that is learned by experience?! i.e if someone male or female is used to a certain weight of something, of course they will "see" what it looks like!>>

In my example:-
1) She's not the world best cook (ie just "normal")
2) She's not at all interested in this debate ("no really!")
3) She scoffed that I didn't know.

<<The difference being that I concede that I am biased and am able to compromise, admitting that the truth lies somewhere between our observations. You on the other hand, seem utterly convinced that hardly anyone uses metric.>>

Not quite - I'm pretty sure that most still request in pounds and "quarters". However I have heard someone say "100 g" and that was in Tesco(!).
Oh and don't forget that "about 130g" post that I made from a shop that did not offer the choice of unit.

<<and if I am standing behind you in the queue, I am also a customer, and I don't want to wait ages to be served because the bloke in front is making issues over how they weigh his mince!>>

People tend not to get more specific than 1/4 1/2 and 1 lb measures. I know that all these measures are known off-by-heart by the staff. It's seemless. Dare I risk it and tell you to give it a go yourself? ;-)

<<To be honest, the only people I blame are the narrow-minded ones who refuse to make a miniscule adjustment to their shopping habits out of pure stubbornness.>>

I apologise.
We all do.


<<The only reason some/many people still ask for stuff in pounds/ounces is because the price per pound/ounce is still there!>>

I don't think so.
I think people know what they want and ask for it.

<< That is the reason for the 2010 regulations - so that the conversion factor is not needed.>>

Do you honestly see that still happening? I thought we both (moderately) agreed that it cannot happen.

<<<Dare I risk it and tell you to give it a go yourself?>>>

I believe you that they are prepared for people asking in lbs/oz so I don't feel the need to test it!

But since the move is from the way you order, to the way I order, why don't you try my way ;-)

<<<I think people know what they want and ask for it.>>>

I agree that is probably true to some extent, and shop staff will still know what a pound is well after 2010.

<<<Do you honestly see that still happening? I thought we both (moderately) agreed that it cannot happen.>>>

I see no reason why it won't happen. No, I don't think the government will enforce the regulations rigidly from the stroke of midnight on 01/01/2010, but I think price markings in imperial will disappear completely within a few years of the regulations coming into effect.

Do you honestly think that in, lets say, 2015, shops will still show a price per lb?

<<
I agree that is probably true to some extent, and shop staff will still know what a pound is well after 2010.
>>

I don't think that some of the shop staff know what a pound is these days!

Ask one of them how much weight they'd like to lose martin.
Back to Planet earth again (UK)


<<Do you honestly think that in, lets say, 2015, shops will still show a price per lb?>>

In 1975 do you think some people might have said that about miles/ miles per hour.

How many decades do you need?

Round and round we go again.

"I don't think that some of the shop staff know what a pound is these days!"


Make it easy on them. Tell them it is 500 g. What they don't know can't hurt them.

<<<In 1975 do you think some people might have said that about miles/ miles per hour.>>>

Maybe. But there was (and still isn't) a date set by which miles will be replaced by kilometres.

There is a fixed date set by which price per kg will replace price per lb.

Get over it. Lbs and oz are going the way of the gallon.

What? They're being computerized?

sorry you've lost me..

I'v never seen a computerised gallon

How old is your car?

Andy wrote

<<
But there was (and still isn't) a date set by which miles will be replaced by kilometres.
>>

The program was under way in 1975. Both miles and kilometres were shown in road atlases in anticipation of the change. In about 1978/9, maximum weight signs in cwt were replaced by signs giving maximum weights in tonnes and maximum height on bridgesw started appearing in both metric and Imperial units.

The came a sterling crisis and the Government postponed the rest of the metrication program and a little later we had a woman Prime Minister who hated anything to do with the EU and she convinced the country that metrication was all part of a EU plot (Which it wasn't - the metrication program had its roots in the ninteenth century).

<<Prime Minister who hated anything to do with the EU>>

Who signed the single european act treaty?


<< and she convinced the country that metrication was all part of a EU plot (Which it wasn't - the metrication program had its roots in the ninteenth century). >>

Some proof, rather then bias, would be needed here.