xkcd #3138: Dimensional Lumber Tape Measure
Title text:
A person with two watches is never sure what time it is, especially if I got them one of the watches.
Transcript:
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Source: https://xkcd.com/3138/
I don't think this is true. There was a transitional period around the 1940s where 2x4s were 1.75" x 3.75", and that wasn't because wood shrunk half as much as it does today.