Fifty years of decimalisation

[Domus]

15 Feb '71, I remember it all too well, as a 16 year old apprentice I went to work feeling quite unwell, got worse as day went on. Stayed in bed next day and the Doctor came and diagnosed Glandular Fever. Six weeks off work as weak as a kitten. I was six weeks behind everyone else getting to grips with the coinage.

 

[guitarpete247]

I started teaching in 1980. About 83/4 I was at a school and someone read an article out from staffroom Times Ed. It was about a maths teacher in London who was observed by an inspector. He was asked why he was teaching £/s/d. He said he thought it might come back.

 

[FrankCrank]

I still used to say 'bent as a nine bob note' back there - guess some things stick with you.

Better not mention thrupenny bits.

 

[Archie_tect]

They were seriously trying to bring in full decimalisation for weights and measures too... but the 'Great British Public' decided that that was a step too far... remember the fights over the 'right' to sell fruit by the pound. I often wondered whether that was where Farage got his idea from a few years later after we'd joined the EEC.

 

[guitarpete247]

I don't mind buying food in grams and kg but do like the feel of a pint in the hand.
On holiday I do like the Greek kilo of wine offered at tavernas with food. Never understood why 70cl is the norm for bottles. Is it because it's approximately 1 pint (imperial)?
I have to convert kilo and 500g to 2lb and 1lb for Mrs. GP when are out shopping.

 

[nickyboy]

I tried to explain the £/s/d system to son#2 recently and the complexities of adding, multiplying, dividing

He said "who came up with such a stupid system?"

He did have a point. Presumably the benefit of 12d per shilling was that a shilling could be divided into 6,4,3 and 2?

 

[Once a Wheeler]

Decimalisation made sense but I seem to recall all the shops rounding the prices UP (never down) so shopping costs jumped overnight

I remember my father bought something for £4/9s/6d and got a bill for £4/10s labelled 'Round shilling accounting in preparation for decimalisation.' He sent them a cheque for £4/0s labelled 'Round pound accounting in preparation for decimalisation.' I never learned what the final outcome was.

 

[Sterlo]

Am I the only one who still instantly converts prices back to 'old' money when out shopping?

I was going to say yes, but obviously not!

 

[lane]

50 years should be long enough for people to decide if they like it or not, get an idea of how it is working. Perhaps time now for a referendum to decide if we want to go back to old money.

 

[lane]

I remember a story line in my comic - Beeno or Dandy not sure which - aimed at helping children understand what was happening.

 

[Once a Wheeler]

I don't mind buying food in grams and kg but do like the feel of a pint in the hand.
On holiday I do like the Greek kilo of wine offered at tavernas with food. Never understood why 70cl is the norm for bottles. Is it because it's approximately 1 pint (imperial)? I have to convert kilo and 500g to 2lb and 1lb for Mrs. GP when are out shopping.

Several countries in mainland Europe use their old word for pound to mean 500g. So you can still buy a pound of onions in a French grocer's, you just get 500g, for most practical purposes just about the same thing as an old pound. We could do the same thing with pints: just redefine it as 500ml and get a bit more juice in your jar. Bring it on.

 

[MontyVeda]

I tried to explain the £/s/d system to son#2 recently and the complexities of adding, multiplying, dividing

He said "who came up with such a stupid system?"

He did have a point. Presumably the benefit of 12d per shilling was that a shilling could be divided into 6,4,3 and 2?

I reckon... a base unit of 12 can be divided in more ways than a base unit of 10

 

[Profpointy]

50 years should be long enough for people to decide if they like it or not, get an idea of how it is working. Perhaps time now for a referendum to decide if we want to go back to old money.

I think we should go back.

As one of the more mature IT people, I could do with a couple of years consultancy at suitably exorbitant day-rate to help with the transition

 

[Profpointy]

I reckon... a base unit of 12 can be divided in more ways than a base unit of 10

Base 10 really is a poor choice. Granted we've 10 fingers, but really ! 12, 16 or 8 would be far better all round

 

[numbnuts]

50 years ago make me feel old