Re: trivia: origin of names for UPPER() and LOWER()

"Turkbear" <john.g_at_dot.spamfree.com> wrote in message news:8i85r1h1qggchebtf7150q4q876a36o4kb_at_4ax.com...
> "Michel Cadot" <micadot{at}altern{dot}org> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Mark C. Stock" <mcstockX_at_Xenquery .com> a écrit dans le message de news:
>>MIqdneW3P7MBEy_eRVn-sA_at_comcast.com...
>>| it occurred to my that for some whose native tongue is not english, the
>>| names of these two functions might seem a bit odd, as would the phrases
>>| 'upper case' and 'lower case'
>>|
>>| so, trivia question: what's the derivation (etymology, if you will) of
>>the
>>| terms 'upper case' and 'lower case' from which these functions get their
>>| name?
>>|
>>| ++ mcs
>>|
>>|
>>
>>I think it comes from the typewriter.
>>When you have to type a capital letter you press the shift button
>>which elevates the carriage.
>>So, small letters were typed when carriage is in lower position
>>and capital letters when it is in upper position.
>>
>>(Sorry if the technical words are not the correct ones)
>>Regards
>>Michel Cadot
>>
> Actually it was from typesetting days:
>
> From:
> http://www.bellevuelinux.org/lower_case.html
>
> The terms lower case and upper case originated from the way that type
> (i.e., individual letters that were cast from special
> metal alloys for use in printing) was stored in the days of hand
> typesetting. The type was sorted by letter and kept in
> specially designed wooden or metal cases, with separate cases for capital
> and small letters. Usually the two cases were
> placed one above the other on a rack on the typesetter's desk, with the
> case containing the capital letters (i.e., the upper
> case) positioned above that containing the small letters (i.e., the lower
> case).
>
> hth
> PS:
> ( Is there anything you can't find with a Google search ;-) )
>
>

I once had a client that required a BATES number on every sales order, so we made sure we included BATES_NO in the database design.

Then we asked what the BATES number represents, we were told it was from the Bates 'kerchunker' gizmo that stamps the number on the incoming paperwork.

I've sinced learned that this quaint terminology is actually a bit more widespread; from 'http://www.techpathways.com/uploads/BatesNumbering.pdf'

"Note: The term "Bates Number" comes from the Bates Manufacturing Co. which was
incorporated on September 13, 1890 in New York State. The Bates Manufacturing Co.
manufactured and sold automatic hand-held numbering machines. The company was bought by
Edison Phonograph Works (Thomas Edison's company) in 1892."

And most of us (at least on this side of the pond) still dial the phone, don't we?

++ mcs Received on Wed Dec 28 2005 - 09:58:49 CST