[Healeys] Today's Rant

[Bob Spidell]

Sadly, the USA doesn't 'make' much of anything anymore--maybe that will 
change, maybe it won't--but we're getting 'metricfied' bit-by-bit.  I 
bought a side mirror for a '55 Thunderbird; it didn't come with the 
needed screws--one was sheet metal, one was machine threads--and the 
original screws I had for the broken mirror didn't fit, nor did any of 
the jillions of English-sized screws I have in small boxes and bags 
scattered about (it would have been a 'size 12,' or eighth-inch or so if 
it was English).  I had to order a 'screw set' for the mirror from the 
supplier; the machine screw in the kit did indeed fit.  The mirror was 
made in Taiwan, and I presume all Chinese/Taiwanese stuff uses metric 
fasteners.

A lot of the T-Bird's parts I've ordered are poor quality, or don't fit 
well, but I guess I should be thankful I can get them at all. Compared 
to this, the Healey parts suppliers appear to be at least /trying/ to 
supply parts that fit.

Bob

On 4/24/2020 2:13 AM, simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com wrote:
>
> “Flirted”? To tell the truth, I’d never given it much thought but had 
> “assumed” that the US had resisted metrification. Don’t I recall that 
> all oil-producing kit is Imperial because of US domination in that 
> area? And planes……?
>
> I do know that, when Ted “The Grocer” Heath dragged the UK into the 
> Common Market, we were supposed to go Metric. There were some hiccups 
> along the way. A pint of beer remains a pint. As did a pint of milk 
> whilst milk bottles still existed.
>
> EU: “You must cease drinking pints forthwith. You will obey”.
>
> UK: “Won’t. Can’t. Shan’t”.
>
> Etcetc Finally:
>
> EU: “You will obey”.
>
> UK: “OK. We will keep pint glasses (From which we will drink proper 
> beer unlike your pallid Europ*ss). We will refer to those glasses as 
> “pints” whilst acknowledging that they contain
>
> 568.261ml litres each.
>
> EU: “Zut, alors. We surrender. Have some cheese”.
>
> Aren’t we all allowed the occasional rant?
>
> Simon
>
>

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