[TheForge] Aluminum vs. Aluminium

[Dave Smucker]

There is an interesting and I think true story about how the second "i" got dropped from the US spelling of aluminum (aluminium in most of the world outside the USA).  The story inside of ALCOA, (Aluminum Company of America) when I went to work there in 1968 is that the first company stationary using Aluminium Company of America the "i" got dropped as an error.  With the large printing of the letter head they when ahead and used it because it had cost $600.00.  I can't prove this but it what I learned as a young employee.

Dave Smucker
Brasstown, NC

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Spencer
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2017 10:53 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Re: Iron Bridge


> In the mid 70's ALCOA decided to produce aluminum (aluminium for you
> Canadians) can sheet for the European Market.  We built a new hot 
> line, cold mill and finishing line using technology never used before 
> for can sheet.  It was a complete disaster and 3000 miles from the 
> companies technical base in Pittsburgh. PA.  Our recovery rate was 
> about 30 percent....
> [snip]

Wow.  Good yarn.  Thanks.

> ...aluminum (aluminium for you Canadians)...

Well, maybe in central Canada, not here.  We say "aluminum".  Some few illiterate older people, ones who dropped out of school in the 3rd or 4th grade, say "alumium" but mispronouce many other words too.

- Mike

-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~. 
                                                           /V\ 
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^
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