Convert german elle to feet with historical context

Ever wondered how medieval German merchants measured bolts of cloth? Or maybe you're restoring a 15th-century timber frame house and found plans using ellen? Converting the German elle to modern feet isn't just about numbers, it's a bridge between eras. Let's explore this historic unit that once shaped European trade.

Unit definitions

What is a german elle (elle)?

The German elle (pronounced EL-luh) was the distance from a man's elbow to fingertips, standardized in 1872 as exactly 0.566 meters. Cloth merchants used it widely until metrication in 1871.

• Symbol: elle
• Common uses: Measuring textiles, timber, rope
• Definition: 1 elle = 22.283 inches = 1.857 feet

What is a foot (ft)?

The foot has been humanity's most persistent measurement - from Roman sandals to modern skyscrapers.

• Symbol: ft
• Common uses: Height, real estate, aviation
• Definition: 1 ft = 12 inches = 0.3048 meters

Conversion formula

1 German elle = 1.857 feet
Feet = Ellen × 1.857
Ellen = Feet ÷ 1.857

Example calculations

1. Converting 3 ellen to feet:
   3 × 1.857 = 5.571 feet (5'6.85")
2. A 10ft timber beam in ellen:
   10 ÷ 1.857 ≈ 5.385 ellen

Conversion tables

German elle to feet

Feet to german elle

Historical background

The elle's story begins with Egyptian cubits, but the German version took its own path. By the 8th century, Frankfurt's cloth elle became influential, though 28 regional variants existed by 1800. The 1872 standardization tried preserving tradition while aligning with metric units, hence the odd 0.566m length. Fun fact: Nuremberg kept two official ellen, one for linen, another for silk!

Interesting facts?

1. Tailors' ellen sticks were often decorated with intricate carvings
2. 1 medieval elle of land could support 12 sheep
3. Some German bridges still show elle markings as historical artifacts
4. The "ellwand" (elle stick) appears in Grimm's fairy tales
5. Modern German "elle" survives in phrases like "mit elle arbeiten" (working manually)

FAQ