An Illustrated History of the Barrel in America
6 by 9 inch, perfect bound, 202 pages
Profusely illustrated and indexed
Published 2006
ISBN 0-9776866-0-4
List price: $14.95
Discount for 5 or more - 40 percent
Contents

Preface 3

Chapter 1 – Early History of the Wooden Container 11

Egyptian Straight-sided Tub 15
Egyptian Tapered Tub 16
Palm Tree Cask 17
Alpine Valley Cask 17
Cask Are Prevalent and The American Barrel 18
Was the Barrel Invented? 20

Chapter 2 – The Robust Barrel: Handle with Care? 27

Description of the Barrel 27
Robustness Examined 28
The Pre-stressed Barrel 29
The Wheel Comparison 32
Speculation on the Barrel Shape 34
Over Niagara Falls 35
Handle with Care? 39
Removing the Bung 42
Re-coopering 43

Chapter 3 – The Barrel in Colonial America 45

Stave Exportation 46
Tobacco 47
Naval Stores 52
Beef and Pork 53
Molasses and Rum 54
Apple Cider 55
Cod Fishing 57
Whale Oil 59
Wheat and Flour 60
Trade with Native Americans 61

Revolutionary War 62
Domestic Woodenware 63

Chapter 4 – Making an American Barrel 67

Types of Cooperage 67
The Cooper’s Block 69
Stave Blanks or Billets 70
Listing the Stave 72
Putting the Shot on the Stave 75
Raising the Barrel 77
Preparing the “Case” for the Heads 80
Making the Barrelheads 82
“Cleaning Down” 84
Installing the Heads and Hoops 85
Clothing and Tools 87
Summary 88

Chapter 5 – America Barrels Along 89

The Embargo Act 90
A Canal and the Constellation 94
Railroads 95
Oil Gushes in Pennsylvania 96
Civil War Intervenes 100
Barrel Machinery Improves 104
The Cooper Fights Back 107
Flour Barrels 109
Beer Barrels 111
Whiskey Barrels 112
Government Standardization 114
The King of Packages 115
Barrels Contained Everything 117

Chapter 6 – Those Inventive Americans 121

Assessable Heads 121
Moving Barrels 124
Butter Churns 126
Cooling Beer 129
Special Barrels 130

Chapter 7 – Shelburne Barrel Factory 135

Products Produced 135
Raising the Barrel 139
Making Barrelheads and Bottoms 142
Installing the Heads and Bottoms 144
Testing for leaks 145
Marking 146
Reproduction Barrels 146

Chapter 8 – Brooks Barrel Company 149

Establishing the Barrel Company 149
Adjusting to Supplier Problems 150
Changing business Patterns 152
Ken Knox Joins Brooks Barrel 154
Knox Buys the Business 155
The Company Today 157

Chapter 9 – Barrels: Integrated into Our Culture 159

Advertising 160
Port Scenes 162
The BIBLE, Bard, and the Barrel 164
Barrel Idioms 165
Barrel Nouns and Adjectives 168
Barrel Quotations 173
The Cracker Barrel 175
Song Lyrics that Mention Barrels 176
Aged in Barrels Today 177
State Seals 178
Barrel Legend and Lore 178
On a Less Serious Note 180
The Final Words 183


Glossary 185

Appendix A – Products in Barrels and Kegs 193

Appendix B – Barrel Gauging 195

Index 199

Home