Phil,
Not far off the mark if your source of the explanation was an American:
1500 lbs = 3/4 of a US (short) ton of 2,000 lb, so you can see the logic from a US point of view concerning 15 cwt (ie 3/4 Imp ton).
US Military nomenclature works in short tons, for example, the 'semitrailer, Van, 6 ton, 2-wheel' has a rated payload of 12,000 lbs, ie 6 x 2,000 lb, and the Ben Hur 'Trailer, tank, water, 1 ton, 250 gallon' has a payload rating of 2,000 lb.
Mike
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