Objektnummer
92/87/2
Beskrivning
This is one of two brass taps of different sizes, probably from beer barrels. The tap opening is at the other end and on the tap is the closing and opening device which needs a key to operate it. These taps came from the donor's great grandfather who lived in Hook, near Basingstoke.
Fysisk beskrivning
1 barrel tap: brass
Arkivhistorik
Object history research, December 2022 - 'How can this object be described? This is a tap made of brass. There is a tap at one end and the other end is pointed end. There is a valve in the centre, which needs a key to open and close. The pointed end has holes so liquid can travel through the tap. // What was the object used for? The tap was probably used in a beer cask, inserted into the hole in the head of the barrel, to safely empty the contents. Here is a photograph from the collection of beer taps being used. // MERL P TAR PH3/2/14/2 Photograph ’Beer from the Wood’ drawing mild ale under perfect conditions in the cool cellar at the Chestnut Horse, Easton, near Winchester // Where did the tap come from? The tap was used by the donor’s great grandfather Daniel Harfield. He ran the Old White Horse pub and brewed beer in the village of Hook, near Basingstoke. // How old is the tap? The tap was probably made and used between 1850 and 1950. // What is coopering? Coopering is the craft of making casks and stave built containers out of wood. The most skilled type of cask making is wet coopering – making watertight containers. Before the 1950s wooden casks were the main way of storing and moving beer. Casks are given their names according to quantity they hold. A firkin holds 9 gallons, a barrel holds 36 gallons and a hogshead holds 54 gallons. Now metal casks are used which are easier to clean, so these taps are no longer needed. // Which other objects in the collection relate to the tap? There is a barrel carrier in the collection from Twyford, probably from the Ewarts of Waltham Brewery. [MERL 53/572]. // This three-gallon, earthenware cider or beer jar was made around 1945–6 by Ray Finch at the Winchcombe Pottery in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. The jar has a tap made of boxwood at the base. It is decorated with a trailed slip design in cream and is glazed dark brown. [MERL 60/635]'
Objektnamn
Material
Digital referens
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_16008.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_16007.tif - High resolution image
