On Tue, 8 Sep 2009 05:32:40 -0700 (PDT), Robatoy
wrote:

I now make parts for different people who e-mail/fax me drawings so I
can quote on them.
Some parts are such that I can't tell what they are or what they're
the purpose of them are.
Sometimes I see dimensions as obviously imperial ones, sometime it is
hard to tell, especially when I have NO clue what these parts are.
Personally, I don't give a rat's ass what system is used as I work in
both metric and imperial.
But what seems to be the reason for the US hold-out to stay with an
archaic system?

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9974/metricmap.jpg

Well, I think it is pretty complicated stuff to move from Imperial to
metric. Here's one small example.

I used to work for Oregon DOT (retired now). While I was with ODOT,
there were 2 times where we and other DOT's were mandated by the
Federal government to move from Imperial to metric with respect to our
construction projects - which effectively meant for all our work.

All standards for measurements, materials, legal documents, etc, were
to be changed to use the metric system.

The first time, the mandate was rescinded before we completed the
change. This was part of the effort that was going to switch the
entire US system to metric, but was abandoned before it really got
going. Making that kind of switch would pay in the long run, but short
term it is difficult.

The second time, the mandate was for DOT's and I imagine other related
agencies. The mandate started out, um, mandatory but was made optional
before we completed the change... ODOT went ahead and finished that
work and became "metrified". We maintained our work in metric for
several years. It took several years to make that transition, you
can't believe the amount of things that have to be redone. I believe a
few other state DOT's did the same, but most DOT's never completed the
change to metric.

This was not popular with contractors. All work and materials they did
for us had to also be in metric, , but for anything else they would
use Imperial. I am sure that was awkward and increased overhead costs.

Eventually the contractors lobbied the legislature and, I assume, the
Governor's office, to switch back to Imperial. Which we did.

As I understand it, all the DOT's that made the changeover to metric
eventually switched back. Not because the DOT wanted to change;
changing such standards is an exhaustive and expensive process. They
changed because of outside (read: political) pressure.