Expert: Martin G Roberts - 1/2/2008

Question
Have a "quarter gill" shot glass, probably from s WW2 era.  Mark on bottom is GASKELLS' BIIRMINGHAM.  There are also some markings on the side as well, one of which is the number 37.  Others near this number  are a 3 and K over an underlined 6 and then what appears to be a J over the number 36.  Can you tell me what the additional markings represent?

Answer
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Well done on dating - you are about right. Gaskell & Chambers made many barfittings and related objects, including lots of pewter mugs and measures. This is a measure, rather than a shot glass, as it would not have been used for drinking.

It is quite difficult to interpret the other markings without seeing how they are positioned relative to each other. However, 36 and 37 are probably both dates (1936, 1937) on which a local weights & measures inspector verified the capacity of the measure as conforming to a quarter-gill, or 1/16th of an Imperial pint. The other marks may be divisional marks, indicating the area covered by the inspector.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk