Marks on a pewter mug

[Roger in Sussex]

Thank you Nell, that is very interesting, I hadn't thought that it was as old as William III, but that would fit in with its probable previous owners. I will try the link and see what transpires.

I have tracked down copies of the Cotterell book David mentioned at Chichester and Crawley Libraries, so should be able to look at one of those without a special journey.

Thanks again all

Roger

[behindthefrogs]

Thw William III ale standard was in use until 1826 when it was replaced by the Imperial Standard.

David

[Roger in Sussex]

Thanks again David. It seems I may be looking for a maker RS some time before 1827?

Roger

[robbo43]

The Crown + WR mark remained in use at least until 1869 when the 1699 statute was repealed.   GR and VR stamps as appropriate were also used in this period.  The 1824 Act changed measurement but not the system of marking, causing a lot of confusion; the 1835 Act exempted glass or pottery vessels from marking, allowed customers to insist on beer being measured in stamped vessels but didn't clear up the marking.  Was the British legal system ever straightforward?.

The C*H mark probably represented the verification authority - County of H (Hertfordshire/Herefordshire/Hampshire )

Robert

[behindthefrogs]

My understanding was that following the 1824 act the crowned WR mark was dropped when the imperial measures were introduced from around the start of 1826.  However this was not consistent because at this time the marks were still applied by the pewter makers.

David

[robbo43]

According to reference works on both weights & measures and on pub mugs etc. the 1824 Act abolished the use of the wine and ale measures and replaced them with Imperial Measurement, it did not replace the requirement of the 1699 act for measures to be stamped WR .  The 1699 Act had failed to make any provision for changing the initials with change of monarch.  This requirement was not removed until the 1869 Act, but was increasingly ignored through the 19th century with GR and VR being substituted by many makers - reverting to WR during the reign of William IV.  WR on its own cannot rule out any date before 1869.

If the mug in question is a pint one, it will hold 16 fluid ounces if was made before 1825 and 20 fluid ounces thereafter.

Robert

[Roger in Sussex]

Thank you Robert and David,

The mug in question holds 20 fluid ounces, so probably I should be looking at a date between 1825 and 1838. It isn't marked with it's capacity though, so I presume was intended for private rather than pub use?

Roger

[Roger in Sussex]

I thought those who have kindly taken interest in this thread might like to see a picture of what it is about.

I have emailed the Pewter Society's information service and will let you all know what they have to say.

Roger

[satch2804]

i also have inherited a tankard wirh WR below a crown. also has 1.QUART stamped at the lip,and what looks like a 10mm circled writing stamp with no6 in the centre, any ideas of dates ec?