Gas and water pipes are often in inches too (Italy) probably because it's an old and critical infrastructure and nobody wants to risk mistakes by trying to fit a 1 inch pipe with a 25 mm one, or 1 1/4" with a 32 mm. Close but not close enough.
However I guess that even American engines are measured in liters or cc, cubic centimeters.
> Gas and water pipes are often in inches too (Italy)
English inches (now 25.4 mm) or Italian inches? (“once”/“oncia”-varied in definition between different parts of Italy, but was always at least a fraction more or less than the English one)
I'm not sure I ever heard the Italian word oncia as a unit of length. I thought it was a translation of the imperial unit of weight, ounce. However all is possible in the world of the old semi forgotten traditional units.
However I guess that even American engines are measured in liters or cc, cubic centimeters.