If anyone frequents a pub using wooden hogsheads I'd be grateful if you could find the length and diameter - All to do with writing up wagon loads for the web site - My notes say . . .
The sizes of wooden casks were semi-standardised, typical dimesions might be taken as
Kegs are small barrel shaped casks with a capacity of ten gallons or less (45.5 litres just under two foot long by just over a foot wide). Kilderkin (half barrel) holds 18 gallons (imperial) and is 25" long by
20" max diameter. Potatoes and other vegetables were often shipped in half barrel sized wooden casks but these were light weight and simple in construction, the hoops holding the staves together were often thin strips of wood nailed in place. One end was left open and after filling this was usually stuffed with straw and bound with rope to keep the potatoes in place. Barrel holds 36 gallons (imperial) and is 30" long by 25" max diameter (however the 'herring barrel, used for dry goods is 26 2/3 gallons capacity) Hogshead holds 54 gallons (imperial) and is 45" long by 38" max diameter. Commonly used for beer, wines or spirits these are about as big as a man can handle easily. Puncheon holds approx 72 gallons, close to five feet long by four feet in diameter. This is the largest barrel that would fit through the drop door of a standard five plank wagon. Puncheons were used mainly for lighter oils I believe. Butt is a very big barrel, holding either 108 (beer) or 126 (wine) gallons. The larger size was used for imported wine I believe. Ton or Tun is the equivalent of two butts, this was actually used as a measure for fish and I believe it was based on the smaller Butt giving a capacity of about 220 gallons, or just about bang on 1,000 litres which would be just over a ton in weight when full of beer.I'd like to check any I can
Regards
Mike