The First Standard
Standardization derives from the need to create a community that enhances not only the needs of an individual but all other contributing members. While standardization…
A Brief History of Elevators
ASME A17.1: Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators has been in effect for almost 100 years. While a near-century is a long time, it only…
ISO 639 Codes for Ancient Languages
Thanks to practices in philology and related disciplines, languages subsumed, displaced, or superseded by contemporary languages or otherwise lost to time are accessible today. For…
ISO 3166-1:2020 – Country Codes Standard Changes
The standard that specifies country codes, ISO 3166-1:2020 – Codes For The Representation Of Names Of Countries And Their Subdivisions – Part 1: Country Code,…
Why a Pint is Bigger in the UK than in the US
An American walks into a pub in London and orders a pint. It looks similar, but, given the amount of the golden-brown, oddly warm liquid…
US Customary System: An Origin Story
The United States’ uniqueness is reflected in omnifarious facets of life. Just look at units of measurement. While most nations use the metric system, the…
The First Hardhat
Our brain is the epicenter of our being, and yet industrial head protection is a concern unique to modern history. Prior to this time, safeguards…
Happy Birthday, NYC Subway!
October 27, 2016 marks the 112th anniversary of the New York City Subway, which was established on the same date in 1904. On the birthday…
History of the Standard Gregorian Calendar
The Gregorian calendar has become the standard for measuring the progression of time since Pope Gregory XIII first introduced it in the year 1582. His papal influence…