Metrication in Chile
Chile adopted the metric system in 1848. Previously, the Spanish system of measures was used.[1]
History
Since colonization, Chile had always used a unit system based on the Spanish customary units. In 1843, a law[2] was passed formalizing it, and defining its fundamental unit, the vara, as a fraction of a metre.
Later, during the presidency of Manuel Bulnes, a law was passed on 29 January 1848[3], adopting the Metric System. Finally, Chile signed the Metre Convention in 1908.
Exceptions in the 20th century
For a long time, all refrigerators were labeled in cubic feet. This changed around 1990, and since then they have since been labeled in litres.
Current exceptions
- Lumber and pipes are sold in metric length, but their width, thickness and diameter are measured in inches.
- Nails are measured in inches, but weighed by the kilogram.
- Yarn is normally sold in yards.
- Paint cans are usually sold in American gallons and fractions of it.
- Television sets and displays of any kind have their diagonal measures stated in inches.
- Tire pressure is measured in psi.
- The most common paper size is letter (carta). A4 paper is seldomly used.
- The price of copper, Chile's main export, is usually quoted in dollars per pound.
- In the Chiloé islands, the almud (a Spanish unit) is used as a volume measurement for "drys" (between six or eight litres).[4]
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References
- Ensayo sobre Chile, Prólogo (in Spanish)
- Ley de Medidas y peso de 15 de diciembre de 1843; published in the 1 January 1844 edition of the Boletín de Leyes y Decretos de Gobierno.
- Gabriel Rodríguez, Sistema Internacional de Unidades. A tomar medidas, Bit Revista Técnica de la Construcción
- Chiloe Island.com, Customs
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