Austrian units of measurement were used in Austria until the adoption of the metric system.
Contents
History
In 1756, the ruling Arch duchess of Austria, Maria Theresa, ordered that the Vienna fathom, as well as its multiples and fractions, should be the state-defined measure of length in the Arch duchy of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary. The Vienna cubit, that is 1 3⁄4 of the Roman cubit (cubit's or elbow), was also used as a measure of length.
The law should also have applied to the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, of which Maria Theresa was the Queen. However, the traditional Roman foot remained in common use in Prague.
When the metric system was introduced by law on 23 July 1871 (which became obligatory on 1 January 1876), the length of the fathom (Kl after) was established as exactly 1.89648384 m.
Measures
Austrian post-mile, police-mile, geographic mile = 3910 Vienna fathoms.