Technikatörténeti szemle 10. (1978)

A MÉRÉS ÉS A MÉRTÉKEK AZ EMBER MŰVELŐDÉSÉBEN című konferencián Budapesten, 1976. április 27–30-án elhangzott előadások II. - Valtchev, A.–Atanasova, P.: A XIX. sz. közepén Bulgáriában használt mértékrendszerek változásai

for milk are made of tin and their diametres and hights are of equal sizes. All vessels should have small chains for easy handling. The measuring unit for weight, called gram, is accepted to be the weight of one cubic centimetre of boiled water measured at 4 degrees of the hundred degree scale. The subdivision of the gram are: decigram, centigram and milligram. Kilogram, quintal (one quntal equals 100 kilograms) and ton are the multiples of the gram. The weight measures are the following: 50 kilograms, 10 kilograms, 5 kilograms, 2 kilograms and 1 kilogram. They are made of found iron. The measures of 20 kilograms have a pyramidal shape with a rectangular base and rounded edges. The other weight measures have again the shape of a pyramid, but the base is a hexagon. Each of them should have a ring of found iron for hanging up on the weighing instrument. Every measure should be properly marked. The measures of 20 kilograms, 10 kg, 5 kg, 2 kg, 1 kg, 500 grams and 200 grams are made of brass. They have a cylindrical shape and the hight of each is equal to the diametre of the base. Smaller measures, such as 2 g, 1 g are again cylindrical, but the base diametre is smaller than the hight, in order to provide enough space for engraving the name of the measure. The measures which are in use in the grocer's shops consists of brass rings, put each into the other. The subdivision measures of the gram are small square brass sheets, nine in total and by their means weights from 1 milligram to 1 gram could be weighed. The instruments for weighing are of three different types: ordinary scales, decimal weights and steelyards. A steelyard is a metal balance, with a two arm lever with a sliding weight on the one arm. The turkish government appoints special officials in every province to inspect the correct execution of the law. He has to have standarts at his disposal and they are checked up with the standarts of the state exchequer once in a decade. All other measures and weights should be marked every time they are checked up with the standarts. The names of the measures and the weights must be clearly written on them. All instruments for weighting are also checked up by the officials before they are permitted for official use. The craftsmen who produce the measures and weights have no right to sell them before they are checked up. Such examinations are done unexpectedly once a year. Those measures, found to be out of the law's regulations, or were soiled or rusty, were confiscated. Within 24 hours every official is obliged to report for any found illegal actions. Those who do not observe the laws are fined or prosecuted. In order to facilitate the introduction of the new measuring units, the Government issues special tables that provide the conversion ratios between the old and new measures. It is periodically mentioned in the newspapers about the measuring system. It is also emphasized on the fact, that this measuring system is already introduced in France and other countries in Europe. It is noticed that each commercial contract, signed in period between 1st March 1871 and 1st March 1874 could be based on the old measuring units, but their equivalent in the new system should be given. The new measuring system turned out to be quite perfect. This system is preserved even after the Liberation (1878). Only a few names have been changed for language reasons. For example, the square metre is introduced and it is called centiare (a hundredth of an are). The kilolitre (1,000 litres) is added to the other capacity units. Volume measures that were added are: the stere, 1 cubic metre, the decastere,