Expert: Martin G Roberts - 1/28/2009

Question
I have a McGlashan of Glasgow 1/4 gill pot with markings that look like 50 and GR34 stamp and 38 and similar stamp. How can l tell what date it was made. I bought it locally for a couple of pounds.
Kindest Regards,
Robert

Answer
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Hello Robert,

Your pot probably is a measure, for delivering exactly a quarter-gill (that is, a sixteenth of a pint) in Imperial measure, and mostly such measures were used in pubs. GR34 is a capacity verification mark applied by a weights and measures inspector in the reign of one of the King Georges (GR = George Rex or King George). 34 is the inspection district, corresponding to Glasgow. The 38 will likely be the first date of verification, being 1938, making GR = George VI. 50 may be a subsequent date on which the capacity was checked.

McGlashan's are recorded from other pewter measures, but otherwise have not been traced (or have not yet been researched), except to say the full name of the company was J McGlashan & Co., they seem to have been retailing pewter that was most likely made in Birmingham by Gaskell & Chambers, and they were active in the first half of the 20th Century.

You can read more about verification marks on my website under the appropriate menu link.

Hope that helps.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk