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Old-Time Weights and Measures

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English Weights and Measures

May 4, 2022
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Ever heard of a firkin, hogshead, and coomb?  Convert old-time English weights and measures to modern-day equivalencies with this chart from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

60 pounds apples = 1 bushel
52 pounds beans = 1 bushel
24 pounds beets = 1 bushel
56 pounds carrots = 1 bushel
55 pounds flour = 1 bushel
54 pounds onions = 1 bushel
45 pounds parsnips = 1 bushel
50 pounds potatoes = 1 bushel
60 pounds string beans = 1 bushel
60 pounds sweet potatoes = 1 bushel
48 pounds tomatoes = 1 bushel
196 pounds turnips = 1 barrel
1 gill = 1/2 cup
1 pottle = 2 quarts
1 coomb = 4 bushels
1 wey = 40 bushels
1 last = 80 bushels
1 firkin = 9 gallons
1 anker = 10 gallons
1 runlet = 18 gallons
1 tierce = 42 gallons
1 hogshead = 63 gallons
1 puncheon = 84 gallons
1 butt = 126 gallons
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Comments

Amy Barker (not verified)

1 year 6 months ago

My best guess for term "do." is for "dash of". Such as two "dashes of" cinnamon.

Sarah B (not verified)

1 year 10 months ago

Hello, I noticed a previous comment was asking about a Do. I am also looking for a measurement for do. As in one do. of butter, three do. currants, 2 do. cream tartar, etc. If it helps, it's a Southern cookery book from the 1860s.

Could it be an abbreviation for “ditto”? For example, if ingredients were listed as

1 tsp. salt
2 do. cream of tartar
3 do. cinnamon

… then perhaps this was indicating “2 tsps. cream of tartar” and “3 tsps. cinnamon”?

“Ditto” is sometimes abbreviated as “do.” — so perhaps it is a possibility if the first ingredient listed in your sources always is a defined measurement type (such as teaspoons). Hope this helps!

Tammy Carpenter (not verified)

2 years ago

What is 1 peck of apples?

Mary Ann Machi (not verified)

3 years 1 month ago

I'm trying to find out how much a barrel, a keg, a firkin, and a box of butter would weigh (or the volume of). I believe a barrel is about 200 pounds, and a firkin a quarter of that. I'm researching products shipped by steamer in the late 1800s in Northern California. Any assistance much appreciated. Thank you