----- Original Message -----
> I was reading about the history of Humber and there was reference made to
> the weight of one of their cars being 26 cwt 2 qr . I've seen the
> 'cwt' measure listed in Rootes literature but have never got around to
> asking what it meant, and now this 'qr' measure. Anybody?
> = J e r o m e Y u z y k | jerome@supernet.ab.ca
> = Sunbeam Alpine Series II #9118636 | www.bss.ab.ca/sunbeam
OK, here goes - but remember, you asked for it.....
Quoting the "English Weights and Measures" webpage at:
http://home.clara.net/brianp/index.html :
"The basic unit of weight in the British system is the grain - based on the
weight of a grain of barley (but note that money was based on the grain of
wheat - and that three grains of barley weigh the same as four of wheat).
This grain is the troy grain - there is no other weight of the same name.
The weight of one grain is constant throughout the many different systems of
British weights. As you will see below, the ounce and pound are anything but
constant.
The avoirdupois pound is the pound in general use today. As its name
implies, it was intended to be used for weighing heavy goods. This pound is
of 7000 grains, and is split into 16 ounces (each, therefore of 437.5
grains). Each ounce is divided into 16 drams (which my calculator makes of
27.34375 grains each - much more fun than metric isn't it?)."
Chart of conversions:
Avoirdupois weights:
16 drams = 1 ounce
16 ounces = 1 pound
7 pounds = 1 clove
14 pounds = 1 stone
28 pounds = 1 tod
112 pounds = 1 hundredweight
364 pounds = 1 sack
2240 pounds = 1 ton
2 stones = 1 quarter
4 quarters = 1 hundredweight
20 hundredweight = 1 ton
NB:
The sack is no longer in common use.
There was a 'Butchers stone' of 8lb until the end of 1939.
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End of quotation.
My assumption is that "qr" would be an abbreviation for "quarter", making
the weight of said Humber 2940 pounds. Certainly not a lightweight, but not
too terribly heavy either - the workshop manual lists the approximate weight
(with fluids) of my 1966 Super Snipe estate at 3581 pounds. Or is that 31
hundredweight, 3 quarters, 1 stone, 1 clove, and 4 pounds?
Thus ends today's lesson in weights and measures.... is it time for recess
yet???
Jon Arzt
Omaha, NE USA
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