A History of Measurement, Presented by the Ford Research and Information Department

Around 1960, Ford Motor Company's Research and Information Department produced a set of educational posters presenting "a short history of how our system of linear measurement and measurement of length came into being." Concise captions accompanying dynamic, simple illustrations revealed the origins of many standards of measurement and explained their critical role in science and industry.

This poster is part of a portfolio illustrating the history of measurement. As several of these posters make clear, early units of measurement were sometimes based upon the bodies of "average men" or royalty. Using a dynamic, simple illustration style, these posters reveal how the standardization of measurements aided the growth and refinement of industrial, precision, and scientific processes.

This poster is part of a portfolio illustrating the history of measurement. As several of these posters make clear, early units of measurement were sometimes based upon the bodies of "average men" or royalty. Using a dynamic, simple illustration style, these posters reveal how the standardization of measurements aided the growth and refinement of industrial, precision, and scientific processes.

This poster is part of a portfolio illustrating the history of measurement. As several of these posters make clear, early units of measurement were sometimes based upon the bodies of "average men" or royalty. Using a dynamic, simple illustration style, these posters reveal how the standardization of measurements aided the growth and refinement of industrial, precision, and scientific processes.

This poster is part of a portfolio illustrating the history of measurement. As several of these posters make clear, early units of measurement were sometimes based upon the bodies of "average men" or royalty. Using a dynamic, simple illustration style, these posters reveal how the standardization of measurements aided the growth and refinement of industrial, precision, and scientific processes.

This poster is part of a portfolio illustrating the history of measurement. As several of these posters make clear, early units of measurement were sometimes based upon the bodies of "average men" or royalty. Using a dynamic, simple illustration style, these posters reveal how the standardization of measurements aided the growth and refinement of industrial, precision, and scientific processes.

This poster is part of a portfolio illustrating the history of measurement. As several of these posters make clear, early units of measurement were sometimes based upon the bodies of "average men" or royalty. Using a dynamic, simple illustration style, these posters reveal how the standardization of measurements aided the growth and refinement of industrial, precision, and scientific processes.

This poster is part of a portfolio illustrating the history of measurement. As several of these posters make clear, early units of measurement were sometimes based upon the bodies of "average men" or royalty. Using a dynamic, simple illustration style, these posters reveal how the standardization of measurements aided the growth and refinement of industrial, precision, and scientific processes.

This poster is part of a portfolio illustrating the history of measurement. As several of these posters make clear, early units of measurement were sometimes based upon the bodies of "average men" or royalty. Using a dynamic, simple illustration style, these posters reveal how the standardization of measurements aided the growth and refinement of industrial, precision, and scientific processes.

Around 1960, Ford Motor Company's Research and Information Department produced a set of educational posters presenting "a short history of how our system of linear measurement and measurement of length came into being." Concise captions accompanying dynamic, simple illustrations revealed the origins of many standards of measurement and explained their critical role in science and industry.