Chats on Old Copper and BrassBurgess, Fred. W. (Frederick William)
History
Chats on Old Copper and Brass
Burgess, Fred. W. (Frederick William)
Brasses; Brasswork; Copper; Copperwork; Metal-work -- Collectors and collecting
When it was enacted in the reign of Henry VII that certain towns
should hold copies of the ancient standards, Exeter was the city
chosen wherein were deposited the standards for the Shire of Devon.
They are now on view in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter,
supplemented by other standards legalized by Queen Elizabeth, and by
more recent copies of authorized standards. There are five standards,
dated 1799, consisting of the Winchester bushel, peck, and half-peck,
and standard coal measure of peck and half-peck. A bronze standard of
the time of William and Mary is engraved "FOR THE CITTY AND COVNTY OF
EXON 1689;" and a standard gallon, embossed with crown and monogram, is
engraved "E.R. ELIZABETH REGINA, 1601;". There are also standard wine
measures; one engraved on one side "CITY OF EXETER 1797" and on the
reverse "HALF PINT. WINE," and another on the reverse, "GILL. WINE."
An exceptionally interesting piece is a standard ale gallon of the
time of the Commonwealth, engraved "AN ALE GALLON SIZED AND SEALED IN
THE TOWER OF LONDON BY ME JOHN REYNOLDS OF THE MYNT. ANO. 1653." Among
the standard weights included in this interesting exhibit is a 14 lb.
bronze weight of the time of Henry VII, embossed with portcullis and
rose, and engraved "HENRIC SEPTIM." It was found some years ago among
old metal at a store in Exeter, the manner of its discovery indicating
the possibility of further finds of a similar nature in other towns.
The little Troy weights are exceptionally well preserved; the weights
according to their engraving are 32 oz., 64 oz., 128 oz., and 256 oz.
On the largest specimen the legend runs: "ANO. DO. EL. REG. XXX. 1588."
and on the upper edge, "CCLVI.", the smaller weights being similarly
indicated. These were all used as the standards at Exeter until the
year 1824. Another interesting specimen is the standard yard and ell
bed used in Exeter for testing the rods used as cloth measures, the
groove on the standard on the engraved side being one yard, that on
the reverse one ell (=45 inches). The inscription on the standard yard
reads: "CIVITAS EXON CHRISTOPHER COKE ESQ. MAYOR. WILLIAM BOLITHO
RECEIVER 1693." In the same museum there are also six brass stamping
blocks formerly in use at the Exeter Custom House in connection with
old Exeter trades.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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