Can anyone tell me why there are 112 pounds in ONE HUNDRED WEIGHT?
Answers:
Since at least 1400 a standard weight unit in Britain has been the hundredweight, which is equal to 112 avoirdupois* pounds rather than 100. There were very good reasons for the odd size of this "hundred": 112 pounds made the hundredweight equivalent for most purposes with competing units of other countries, especially the German zentner and the French quintal. Furthermore, 112 is a multiple of 16, so the British hundredweight can be divided conveniently into 4 quarters of 28
pounds, 8 stone of 14 pounds, or 16 cloves of 7 pounds each.
* Avoirdupois' weight" : The system of weights in British and U.S. use for goods other than gems, precious metals, and drugs: 2711/32 grains = 1 dram; 16 drams = 1 ounce; 16 ounces = 1 pound; 112 pounds (Brit.) or 100 pounds (U.S.) = 1 hundredweight; 20 hundredweight = 1 ton.
things are a lot heavier in old money-oh for the old days
IN ONE HUNDRED WEIGHT THERE ARE I THINK 200 POUNDS
Isn't it the weight of one hundred fleeces?
Since there is or was two hundred weights a short one which is 100lbs and a long one which is 112lb (incidentally this appears to have been a 108lbs at one time) I suspect it was similar to the bakers dozen where with loose materials extra was supplied to ensure the customer got what he paid for
yes, I can tell you but I'd have to kill you afterwards because it's a secret.
This was to make things awkward for kids when I was at school.
16 drams = 1 ounce.
16 ounces = 1 pound
14 pounds = 1 stone
28 pounds = 1 quarter
4 quarters = 1 hundredweight
(or 112 pounds = 1 hundredweight)
20 hundredweights = 1 ton.
RoyS.
Blame the King!
Edward III changed the value of the stone from 12½ pounds to 14 pounds. Since a hundredweight is 8 stones, the 100-pound hundredweight became 112 pounds.
Next question is why did he do that? Something about a Sack! Follow the link for more detail:
http://www.sizes.com/units/hundredweight.
Seems "Reinvention" above may have been closer than someone gave her credit for.
The answers post by the user, for information only, UKQnA.com does not guarantee the right.