Germany, December 22, 1714: The mercury thermometer was invented by Daniel Fahrenheit, a maker of scientific instruments. So as to be able to operate his new invention, he later worked out the Fahrenheit temperature scale in 1724. So during the ten years in between, people could see that it was hotter or colder, but they couldn’t really say how much. Join us now for a scene observed one summer afternoon in 1720 at Hans Heinrich’s Biergarten just outside the village of Hamberg, out on das patio:
First guy: “Say, mein pal, how hot is it?”
Other guy: “It is, vell, kind of hot, but maybe not so hot as was yesterday.”
First guy: “Oh? How hot it was yesterday?”
Other guy: “I dunno. Pretty hot.”
First guy: “Well, look at thermo-meter! It’s right there on das wall!”
Other guy: “I am looking! I am looking!”
First guy: “Say! You are trying to get smart mit me?”
Other guy: “Who vants to know, mister weiss guy?”
First guy: “Dot does it!”
[Fight breaks out. Finally, Mr. Fahrenheit works out some numbers for the thermo-meter, and peace returns to Hans Heinrich’s Biergarten.]
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