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Old-Time Weights and Measures

English Weights and Measures

Catherine Boeckmann
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Ever heard of a firkin, hogshead, and coomb?  Convert old-time English weights and measures to modern-day equivalencies with this chart from The Old Farmer’s ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË.

60 pounds apples = 1 bushel
52 pounds beans = 1 bushel
24 pounds beets = 1 bushel
56 pounds carrots = 1 bushel
55 pounds flour = 1 bushel
54 pounds onions = 1 bushel
45 pounds parsnips = 1 bushel
50 pounds potatoes = 1 bushel
60 pounds string beans = 1 bushel
60 pounds sweet potatoes = 1 bushel
48 pounds tomatoes = 1 bushel
196 pounds turnips = 1 barrel
1 gill = 1/2 cup
1 pottle = 2 quarts
1 coomb = 4 bushels
1 wey = 40 bushels
1 last = 80 bushels
1 firkin = 9 gallons
1 anker = 10 gallons
1 runlet = 18 gallons
1 tierce = 42 gallons
1 hogshead = 63 gallons
1 puncheon = 84 gallons
1 butt = 126 gallons

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About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË found each other. She leads digital content for the ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Dictionary.com Unabridged states: First recorded in 1550–60; variant of blob which can be defined as a small drop or lump of something viscid or thick.

Denise (not verified)

7 years 1 month ago

You neglected to mention this measurement. Remember the song lyric "I love you, a bushel and a peck..."?
Anyway, it's 1/4 of a bushel.

Pretty sure that song was written within the last year or two, but you're right. A peck was left out of the list. Can't imagine how it got away from them, given how complete the list is.

Mary (not verified)

7 years 1 month ago

Sorry, the song "Bushel and a Peck" was written in 1950 and introduced in a Broadway show called "Guys and Dolls" the same year.

Nancy Clark (not verified)

7 years 11 months ago

My grandmother's wonderful carrot cake recipe calls for a "box of coconut". How many cups/ounces is in a "box"? I have never seen coconut in a box and haven't been able to find any information by researching it.

I found this article because I thought I remembered seeing a blue box of coconut at my grandmother's house back in the 50's. It has 3 and 1/2 ounces of shredded coconut in it: Hoboken Historical Museum, Pastperfectonline.com, Baker's Angel Flake coconut.

snowflakes74 (not verified)

9 years 5 months ago

For a pie filling, it calls for a "chunk of butter". I have searched online for days now, and can't find any measurement for this. It is from the times when people also used pinch of salt as well.

In Great Britain, recipes often call for a knob of butter. Presumably, that's the same as a chunk. It means to use your judgment, but anywhere from about one TBLSP to three TBLSPS should do the trick. It's up to you how buttery you want it to be.

Brandy Kuykendall (not verified)

9 years 9 months ago

I have a recipe that calls for a cut of sugar. Any ideas what that might be? I know sugar at the time was sold in loaves that had to be cut, broken, or smashed.
I have some old sugar nippers and a sugar saw. Of course they each do different sizes.