Metrication in Chile

Chile adopted the metric system in 1848. Previously, the Spanish system of measures was used.^[1]

History

On January 29, 1848^[2], when Manuel Bulnes was president, a Chilean law was passed in which the metric system was adopted. Chile signed the Metre Convention in 1908.

Exceptions in the 20th century

Initially all refrigerators were sold in cubic feet. This changed around 1990 and they have since been labeled in liters.

Current exceptions

• Lumber and pipes are sold in metric length, but their width, thickness and diameter are measured in inches.
• Nails are sold in inches, by the kilo.
• Yarn is normally sold in yards.
• Television sets and displays of any kind have their diagonal measured in inches.
• Tire pressure is measured in psi.
• The most common paper size is letter (carta). A4 paper is not used.
• The price of copper, Chile's main export, is quoted in US dollars per pound.
• In Chiloé the almud (a Spanish unit) is used as a volume measurement for drys (between 6 and 8 liters).^[3]
• McDonald's sells its Quarter Pounder with cheese literally translated as cuarto de libra con queso.^[4][5] In the film Pulp Fiction it is said that because of the metric system in France this sandwich is called Royale with cheese.^[6] This is not the case in Chile, where most people are unaware of the weight of a quarter pound.

References

1. ^ Ensayo sobre Chile, Prólogo (Spanish)
2. ^ Gabriel Rodríguez, Sistema Internacional de Unidades. A tomar medidas, Bit Revista Técnica de la Construcción (Spanish)
3. ^ Chiloe Island.com, Customs
4. ^ La Cuarta, 29-Sep-2010, Cuarto de libra con queso desató mañana de furia (Spanish)
5. ^ YouTube, Quiero Un Cuarto De Libra AHORA!! (I want my quarter of pounder with cheese NOW!!) (Spanish)
6. ^ IMDb, Memorable quotes for Pulp Fiction