The obsolete units of measurement of German-speaking countries consist of a variety of units, with varying local standard definitions. Some of these units are still used in everyday speech and even in stores and on street markets as shorthand for similar amounts in the metric system. For example, some customers ask for one pound of something when they want 500 grams. The metric system became compulsory on 1 January 1872, in Germany and on 1 January 1876, in Austria. Some obsolete German units have names similar to units that were traditionally used in other countries, and that are still used in the United Kingdom and the United States.
German system
Before the introduction of the metric system in German, almost every town had its own definitions of the units shown below. Often towns posted local definitions on a wall of the city hall. For example, the front wall of the old city hall of Rudolstädt has two marks which show the "Rudolstädter Elle", the proper length of the Elle in that city. Supposedly by 1810 there were 112 different standards for the Elle around Germany.
Length
''Meile'' (mile)
A German geographic mile is defined as equatorial degrees, equal to. A common German mile, land mile, or post mile was defined in various ways at different places and different times. After the introduction of the metric system in the 19th century, the Landmeile was generally fixed at , but before then there were many local and regional variants :
''Wegstunde''
One hour's travel, used up to the 19th century. In Germany Meile or. After 1722 in Saxony post mile = 1000 Dresdenrods = 4531 m. In Switzerland.
''Fuß'' (foot)
The Fuß or German foot varied widely from place to place in the German-speaking world, and also with time. In some places, more than one type of Fuß was in use. One source from 1830 gives the following values:
''Rute'' (rod)
The Rute or Ruthe is of Carolingian origin, and was used as a land measure. Many different kinds of Ruthe were used at various times in various parts of the German-speaking world. They were subdivided into differing numbers of local Fuß, and were of many different lengths. One source from 1830 lists the following:
''Klafter''
Originally 6 feet, after introduction of the metric system 10 feet. Regional variants from in Baden to in Switzerland.
''Lachter''
The Lachter was the most common unit of length used in mining in German-speaking areas. Its exact length varied from place to place but was roughly between.
''Elle'' (ell)
Distance between elbow and fingertip. In the North, often 2 feet, In Prussia feet, in the South variable, often feet. The smallest known German Elle is, the longest.
''Zoll'' (inch)
Usually foot, but also and.
''Linie''
Usually inch, but also.
Volume
''Quent''
Being 1/5 of any measure
''Klafter''
For firewood,
''Nösel''
In general, the Nösel was a measure of liquid volume equal to half a Kanne. Volume often varied depending on whether it was beer or wine. Its subdivisions were the Halbnösel and the Viertelnösel. An Ahm was a measure used for wine or beer. An Eimer was a container that was a fifth of an Ahm. A Viertel was a fourth of an Eimer. A Stübchen was a measure of wine or beer that was equal to 2 Kannen. It was the approximate amount of wine or beer that could serve an entire room in a tavern. A Kanne was a measure of wine or beer large enough to fill a humpen or krug. A Quartier was a fourth of a Stübchen. A Nösel was a cup or mug of wine or beer. Actual volumes so measured, however, varied from one state or even one city to another. Within Saxony, for example, the "Dresden jar" held approximately, so a nösel in Dresden was about. The full volume of a "Leipzig jar" measured ; the Leipzig nösel was therefore. The nösel was used in minor commerce, as well as in the household to measure meal, grain, and such. These units of measure were officially valid in Saxony until 1868, when the metric system was introduced. Nevertheless, the old measures have continued in private use for decades. One modification was introduced in Thuringia. There, the nösel was, by extension, also a measure of area; namely, the area of land which could be sown with one nösel of seed — or about
