When asked about the characteristics of a particular thing, most likely, among other features, its mass will be named. Today, weight in most countries is measured in kilograms. But this was not always the case, and now other systems are used.
The need for measurements
The need to understand how much this or that thing weighs probably arose simultaneously with the advent of commodity-money relations. Why had there been such calculations before? To share the crop, to sell or buy something - all these actions require at least a rough measurement of mass. This, in turn, requires the introduction of more or less universal and understandable to most units, as well as special instruments - scales. That is how in different states their own systems appeared, some of which exist now.
History: Examples in the West
As you know, until a certain moment England was a leading power, and it was her Imperial system of measures that over time began to be used by most European states, as well as colonies. In its embodiment, the mass was designated as follows:
| Title | Description | Compliance with modern units |
| Drachma | One of the smallest units | 1.77 g |
| Ounce | Equaled 16 drachmas | 28.35 g |
| Lb | There were several varieties, one of the most common units | 453.59 g |
| Quatern | Equal to 3.5 pounds | 1.59 kg |
| Stone | Mainly used to measure human body weight | 6.35 kg |
| Short handwrite | It is applied in agriculture | 45.36 kg |
| Long handle | Appeared in connection with a special packaging of coal, now almost never used | 50.8 kg |
| English (long) ton | Equal to 20 long handrays | 1016.05 kg |
| Keel | Meets 47488 pounds | 21540.16 kg |
So, the remnants of this system still exist in one form or another. Despite standards that have long changed, old weight measures are still used in many areas. But gradually they are nevertheless supplanted.
Since bulk solids are more difficult to weigh, it was generally more convenient to proceed from volume measures. The British mainly used pints equal to about 0.568 liters. A measure with this name is now used in the United States, but it is already equivalent to 0.55 liters.
In Russia and in Russia
Before the adoption of the standard system, there was its own, partially echoing the English. Some units bore the same names, but differed in size, which in international trade turned into terrible confusion. So, in Russia we used the following weights:
| Title | Description | Modern compliance |
| Share (drachma) | The smallest old Russian unit | 0.044 g |
| Spool | Equal to 96 shares | 4.224 g |
| Lot | Equals 3 spools | 12.797 g |
| Lb | Taken from the English system | 409.5 g |
| Pood | Equal to 40 pounds | 16.38 kg |
| Berkovets | 10 pounds | 163.8 kg |
Obviously, partly the names migrated from the English system, although the original ones were preserved. Particularly alien in this case is the measure of the "pound" weights, which, nevertheless, has completely taken root. Some items
are used now, but in different meanings. For example, the hryvnia has become the name of the currency.
Of course, the original Russian measure of weight is a pound, which is reflected in numerous winged expressions. Perhaps, with its loss, a considerable part of the identity was lost, but for the sake of convenience, sometimes you have to sacrifice something. Pud remained in folk memory, proverbs, sayings and simply winged expressions.
Bulk products were evaluated using special "bread" measures - quarters, octopus and fins. For liquids, quadrangles and garbage were also used.
Eastern states
China, Japan and other Asian countries have always been a mystery to Europeans. These states developed on their own, so it is not surprising that they have their own measures of weight and volume. Despite the fact that China has long adopted a standard system, which will be discussed below, in the markets, even in central cities, the main trading unit remains jin, equal to 0.5 kg. That is why it is necessary to be more careful when shopping. In another way, this unit is sometimes called the Chinese pound.
A number of Southeast Asian countries also use a similar unit - catti, equal to approximately 600 grams. It is still used in Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Burma.
Special measures
Using a standard system is not always convenient. For example, not every housewife in the kitchen holds the scales in order to accurately measure the mass of products in accordance with the recipe. Yes, special jugs with marks are used, especially for
bulk substances, but, nevertheless, most women prefer to use their own dishes for measurements. This habit was instilled in most Russian housewives by their mothers and grandmothers, because in the USSR all glasses, for example, were completely standard. So this method was extremely convenient if the recipes were passed from girlfriend to girlfriend. And although this system is gradually becoming a thing of the past, some housewives either continue to sprinkle or put products “by eye”, or use familiar and familiar “glasses”, “teaspoons” and “on the tip of a knife”.
Pharmacy system
At all times, the preparation of medicines required the most careful calculations and
measurements. Indeed, according to the well-known expression belonging to Paracelsus, everything is poison, everything is medicine; both determine the dose. So it was the pharmacists who needed the most accurate scales and the most stringent standards of measures, because the slightest deviation from the prescription had at best such consequences as the ineffectiveness of the drug.
That is why the system of weight measures for pharmacists was separate. And still, in different countries the values varied, even if they were borrowed.
| Title | Description | In England | In Russia |
| Gran | The smallest pharmacy measure of weights | 64.8 mg | 62.2 mg |
| Scruple | Equal to 20 grains | 1.295 g | 1.244 g |
| Drachma | 3 scruples | 3.888 g | 3.73 g |
| Ounce | 8 drams | 31.103 g | 29.8 g |
| Lb | 12 oz | 373.242 g | 358.323 g |
So, obviously, the difference in systems could lead to enough
unpleasant consequences. Besides her, coincidences in the name of pharmacies and trade measures could also cause confusion. That is why it arose
the general need for unification - so that the measures of weights are the same everywhere.
Over time, a system was developed that is now used by most both in the manufacture of medicines and in trade. And the pharmaceutical measure of the scales is a thing of the past, leaving pharmacists with incredibly accurate measuring instruments.
Modern standard system
It became clear that dissimilar measures of weights are inconvenient to translate into each other. Given that some names coincided, but their meanings did not, the question arose of introducing common standards. And the first steps to implement this initiative were taken after the French Revolution. In 1875, the Metric Convention was signed, so that a more or less general system of measures of weight, length, temperature and other quantities was created. It has been repeatedly supplemented and improved. As a result, the so-called International System of Units (SI) was developed, based on seven basic quantities: meter, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole and candela.
Currently, all states of the world, except three, have adopted this standard as the main or the only one. Exceptions are the United States, Liberia and Myanmar. That is why Americans who are not used to conventional units often get lost abroad and get confused.
Reference
What is accepted per kilogram? It would seem a strange question, but it is not without meaning. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures has an answer, because it is there that the kilogram standard is stored . It is made in the form of a cylinder made of an alloy of platinum and iridium and has a diameter and height of 39.17 mm. So you can see a real kilogram with your own eyes.