Technikatörténeti szemle 10. (1978)

A MÉRÉS ÉS A MÉRTÉKEK AZ EMBER MŰVELŐDÉSÉBEN című konferencián Budapesten, 1976. április 27–30-án elhangzott előadások II. - Rotter, F.: A hitelesítő szolgálat fejlődése Ausztriában az elmúlt 200 évben

â section for the introduction of the metric system of measurements in Austria was founded. A partisan of the metric system was also Joseph JÀCKEL. He was chief of the Weights and Measures Office (Zimentierungsamt) of the city of Vienna since 1819. He is the author of „European Currency, Measures and Weights" that, appeared in two volumes in 1828. In 1836 he issued a comprehensive positive expert evidence for the introduction of the metric system of measurement in Austria. The greatest obstacle that impeded the introduction of the metric system was the weights and measures reform of Father Franz during the reign of Maria Theresia, since the measuring standards of Father Franz had a high correlative accuracy and were meeting the requirements of commerce very well. Finally the revolutions of the years 1848 and 1849 proved to be a great obstacle to the introduction of the metric system ; people had to bother with more important questions. It was in 1853 when the introduction of metric weights and measures was again rejected, and it was again begun to introduce consistently the weights and measures of Father Franz in the whole of Austria. This happened 1854 in Hungary, in the Temeser Bana t, in Croatia and Slavonia, 1857 in Silesia, 1858 in Dalmatia, in Moravia, in the Coast region, in Carniola and n Styria. Thus within a period of 102 years the Weights and Measures Piatent of 1756 has been completely put into effect. At the same time the metrological service has been organized following the Lower Austrian model. According to Parkinson's Law it could not take much time until the weights and mesures of Father Franz were ripe to be abolished, since the summit of perfection was reached. And this really happened. The introduction of the metric units of measurement could not be stopped any longer. On January 24, 1857, the „Zoll-Pfund" equal to 500 g was introduced in Austria. In 1861 a committee of 10 scientists under the présidence of ETTINGSHAUSEN, director of the Physical Institute of the University of Vienna, made the proposal to the German Federation (Deutscher Bund) to introduce the metric system of measurement. On January 1, 1872, the metric system became obligatory in the North-German Federation (Norddeutscher Bund). An Austrian commission of experts met in 1867 to discuss the introduction of the metric system and presented already in 1868 a complete draft of law. With some amendments this bill passed parliament in Vienna on June 22, 1871, it was signed by Emperor Franz Joseph on June 23, 1871, and was published on March 2, 1872. in the Reichsgesetzblatt. It was the „Law by which a new Order of Weights and Measures is being established". For this reason Austria has celebrated the hundredth anniversary already in 1872. This law came into force optionally on January 1, 1873, and obligatory on January 1, 1876. In Hungary a corresponding regulation was stipulated by Art. VII which came into force on January 1, 1876, that is simultaneously with Austria. By this Austria is the 17th, and Hungary is the 18th state that officially has introduced metric units of measurement. . ..