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Old-Time Weights and Measures

English Weights and Measures

Catherine Boeckmann
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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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About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

Amy Barker (not verified)

4 years 4 months ago

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

Sarah B (not verified)

4 years 9 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)

4 years 11 months ago

What is 1 peck of apples?

James Nichols (not verified)

2 years 9 months ago

A peck is one fourth of a bushel

Mary Ann Machi (not verified)

5 years 12 months 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

Shane Lowrey (not verified)

6 years 1 month ago

My grandmother always reminded us, "a pint's a pound, the world around." It worked for both volume (liquid) and weight measures.

Robert Mcconnell (not verified)

6 years 1 month ago

Thank you for helping me.

B.BAKER (not verified)

6 years 1 month ago

MY FRIEND SAID SHE HAD HER GRANDMOTHERS OLD COOKBOOK...WE ARE IN OUR MID 70;S, SO COOKBOOK MAY BE QUITE OLD. SHE CAME ACROSS THE WORD "BLUB"....THAT IS B L U B....( NOT BULB). DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A BARRELL MEASUREMENT??