After reading a few 19th century inventory lists, I’ve noticed that coal was
either measured in tons or “scuttles”. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find “
a scuttle” described as any unit of measurement other than “a pail or
container”. How much coal is in a scuttle anyway?
thanks in advance!
Jason
A late 19th century Adam revival brass coal scuttle of unusually large scale
Height 30 inches : 76 cm
This one, of a completely different design, looks much smaller.
Perhaps there was a standard scuttle defined for commercial use at Greenwich?
One measures two scuttles of coal in much the same way Kellogg’s measures the two scoops of raisins in every box of raisin bran.
A coal scuttle is what coal is sometimes kept in as it sits beside the fire waiting to be used. It had an uneven brim so that you could use it as a scoop, when out in the coal bunker, rather than shovel it in, though you could do either.
So a scuttle, in that sense, is about a bucket and a half.
You’ve about got it - there wasn’t any standardized measure called a “scuttle” that I can find, although one may have developed in certain regions (like the “bushel” did for grain, vegetables, and kittens) based on a specific make or manufacture of a scuttle.