-----Original Message-----
From: The listserv that doubts. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 8:47 PM

In a message dated 8/9/2007 11:42:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
The term "candlepower" is based on a measurement of the light produced by a pure spermaceti candle weighing one sixth of a pound, burning at a rate of 120 grams per hour. 
 
Like I said, do I have to do all the heavy lifting around here?     ---Jeu Sont Fait
>

I almost fell for this, until on second reading I saw the reference to the burn rate of 120 grams/hr.  Units are not established on the basis of calculations which include English (pounds) and metric (grams).

Take two telephone wafers and call me in the morning.

Dr. Ralph 

>>
Bruce Writes:

Evidently there was a typo in the definition posted above as I see a reference to the candle burning at a rate of "120 grains per hour" here:

>
spermaceti candle 

...pure spermaceti consists principally of cetyl palmitate and other esters of fatty acids with fatty alcohols and melts at about 44 °C (111 °F). The former official unit of illumination, the candlepower, was defined as the light given off by a candle of pure spermaceti burning at a rate of 7.776 grams (120 grains) per hour.
use in lighthouses 
>
From:  http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-92362/candela

Grains and pounds are consistent as the pound we use is 7000 grains, 437.5 to the avoirdupois ounce (how our "English" system got mixed up with the French is another story I imagine dating back to the intermarriage of the French and British royals or their global trading practices).  I tried to find out what the basis for a grain was but didn't see any reference to its origin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_(measure)

The Wikipedia entry for spermaceti says it is a wax found in the head of Sperm whales but can also be found in the blubber of all whales.  They also say it can be removed from whale oil by a process.  This suggests that it could still be produced today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermaceti

Bruce (who believes some but not all of what he reads on the Internet)

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