Austrian_units_of_measurement

Obsolete Austrian units of measurement

Obsolete Austrian units of measurement

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Austrian units of measurement were used in Austria until the adoption of the metric system.

History

In 1756, the ruling Archduchess of Austria, Maria Theresa, ordered that the Viennese klafter as well as its multiples and fractions, should be the state-defined measure of length in the Archduchy of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary. The Viennese cubit, that is 13⁄4 of the Roman cubit (cubitus or elbow), was also used as a measure of length.

The law should also have applied to the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, of which Maria Theresa was queen. However, the traditional Roman foot remained in common use in Prague.

When the metric system was introduced by law on 23 July 1871 (which became obligatory on 1 January 1876),[1][2][circular reference] the length of the klafter (kl) was established as exactly 1.89648384 metres.

Measures

More information Name of unit, Length ...

Austrian post-mile, police-mile, geographic mile = 3,910 Viennese klafters.

References

  1. [1]
    "Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 6, 1897 - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  2. [2]
    History of the metric system#The German Zollverein


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