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Strange screw threads: two nations divided by a single language

To: "'british-cars@autox.team.net'" <british-cars@autox.team.net>,
Subject: Strange screw threads: two nations divided by a single language
From: Paul Garside <Paul.Garside@seagatesoftware.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 01:32:22 -0800
A great story, Bob, with the edge slightly taken off it by an anglo-US
language pitfall ;-). Perhaps wishing to avoid the americanism of using
"alternate" where we in the UK would say "alternative", you missed the real
UK use of the word "alternate" - meaning "every other one".

Easier to relate in spanish!

Paul

> As the total number of thread sizes, material, head style, lengths and
> whatever became too large for stores to handle, a meeting was held at
> a VERY high level to take the decision to only use alternative BA thread
> sizes in the future.

> All stock of the "other" sizes, apart from very small stocks for
> maintenance of existing equipment, were disposed of (probably by
> dumping at sea, I wouldn't be surprised...).

> All went well, until the next time the GPO swung into action to do
> their part in maintaining Britain's defences. Only then, of course, did
> they discover that the Ministry had standardised on all the "even" BA 
> sizes, and the GPO on all the "odd" ones ...

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