A number of different
units of measurement
A unit of measurement is a definite magnitude of a quantity, defined and adopted by convention or by law, that is used as a standard for measurement of the same kind of quantity. Any other quantity of that kind can be expressed as a multi ...
were used in Argentina as its national system was derived from Spanish Castillian. The
metric system
The metric system is a system of measurement that succeeded the decimalised system based on the metre that had been introduced in France in the 1790s. The historical development of these systems culminated in the definition of the Interna ...
was legally optional since 1863 and has been compulsory since 1887.
Pre-metric units
A number of different units were used before 1887.
Length
A number of different units were used to measure length. These units varied from one province or city to another.
In the province of Buenos Aires, one
vara
Vara or VARA may refer to:
Geography
*Vara (river), in Liguria, Italy
* Vara Parish, former municipality in Tartu County, Estonia
* Vara, Estonia, village in Peipsiääre Parish, Tartu County, Estonia
* Vara Municipality, municipality in western S ...
(yard) was 0.8666 m.
Some other units used in the province of Buenos Aires are given below:
1 línea (line) = vara
1 pulgada (inch) = vara
1 palma (palm) = vara
1 pié (foot) = vara
1 braza (fathom) = 2 vara
1 cuadra = 150 vara
1 legua (league) = 6000 vara.
Railway measures
There were some other units used on the railways. One legua was equal to 600 varas (0.3231 mile). One milla was equal to 1.85 km (1.149 miles)
Mass
Different units were used to measure mass. These units were vary from one province or city to another and, in the
province of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires (), officially the Buenos Aires Province (''Provincia de Buenos Aires'' ), is the largest and most populous Argentine province. It takes its name from the city of Buenos Aires, the capital of the country, which used to be part of th ...
, one libra (pound) was equal to 459.4 g while one "Libra de Farmacia" (apothecary pound) was equal to libra or 344.5 g. Some other units in the province of Buenos Aires are provided below:
1 lb (Argentine Confederation libra) = 1.0127142432 lb (US pound 1893) = 1.01271544757245 lb (Avoirdupois) = 0.45936 kg
1 grano (grain) = libra
1 adarme (dram) = libra
1 onza (ounce) = libra
1
arroba
''Arroba'' is a Portuguese and Spanish custom unit of weight, mass or volume. Its symbol is @.
History
The word ''arroba'' has its origin in Arabic ''ar-rubʿ'' (الربع) or "quarter," specifically the fourth part (of a quintal), which de ...
= 25 libra
1
quintal
The quintal or centner is a historical unit of mass in many countries which is usually defined as 100 base units, such as pounds or kilograms. It is a traditional unit of weight in France, Portugal, and Spain and their former colonies. It is com ...
(hundredweight) = 100 libra
1 tonelada (ton) = 2000 libra.
The marco used for gold and silver was equal to 3544.4 grains.
Capacity
Dry and liquid units were used for capacity.
These units varied from one province or city to another.
Dry
1
fanega = 137.1977 l
1 Cuartilla = Fanega
1 Tonelada = 7 Fanega
1 Lastre = 12 Fanega.
Liquid
Units included:
1 Frasco (gallon) = 2.375 l
1 Octava (pint) = Frasco
1 Cuarta (quart) = Frasco
1 Baril (barrel) = 32 Frasco
1 Cuerta = 48 Frasco
1 Pipa = 192 Frasco.
Units after metric adoption
Although theoretically the metric system was compulsory, a survey in 1920 revealed the widespread use of both traditional Spanish units and US customary units (particularly in trade with the US).
References
{{Systems of measurement
Argentine culture
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...