I've recently been in touch with Pat Turner of Turner Model Works / Finestkind Models about the need for decent S scale barrel models. Here's my research:
Pat, I've been doing some research online since getting your response, hoping to make some sense of the barrel industry. The more I research, the more confused I become. Let me explain. The basic construct known as a barrel has been around since the middle ages. It is not known when or where the first was built. The structure of a barrel has several advantages. For holding liquids, since the wood swells when wet, a barrel becomes leakproof after it's initial wetting. The shape helps handling. A barrel tipped on its side does not land flat, but rocks, distributing the force of impact to a large surface area. Due to the bulge shape, one man can roll a barrel on a flat surface, steering it by tipping the barrel to one side or the other. Large heavy barrels can be rolled up ramps by one or two men by employing ropes with one end attached at the top of the ramp, looped around the barrel, and pulled up by the men. By rocking the barrel, one or two men can lift the barrel on end with "minimal" effort. Barrels come in a large variety of sizes, and with a large variety of names. Kegs, Rundlets, Firkins, Kilderkins, Barrels, Casks, Tierces, Hogsheads, Puncheons, and Tuns are all barrels by other names. Some of these are specific to particular commodoties. Size is another mish mash. I have discovered a history of "barrels" by whatever name in sizes of 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, and 20 gallon sizes for what I will call "kegs"; 30, 31 1/2, 32, 36, 40, 42, 53, 59, and 65 gallon "barrel" sizes; a "Tierce" is either 42 or 65 gallons depending on the commodity; a "Hogshead" is either 63 or 256 gallons depending on the commodity; a "Tun" is almost always 252 gallons. These volumes can also be translated into a variety of dimensional variations again depending on commodity. A 42 gallon "Tierce" of wine will be shorter and fatter than a 42 gallon "Barrel" of oil. Official United States barrel sizes as per commodity are as follows: Dry goods, 7,056 cu. in. Cranberries, 5,826 cu. in. Wine, 31.5 gal. Ale & Beer, 36 gal. Proof Spirits, 40 gal. Petroleum, 42 gal. Fish, beef, pork: 200 lb. Cement barrel: 375 lb. All that said, I am still trying to locate, so far without success, the general dimensions of a 42 gallon standard "Barrel" of oil. I may be able to extrapolate, but first: 5 gallon keg: 9 3/4" head diameter, 12" belly diameter, 18 1/2" height 10 gallon keg: 12 3/4" head, 15" belly diameter, 21" height Barrels for fruits, vegetables, and other dry commodities other than cranberries: * Full Barrel, 17 1/8" head, 20 1/4" diam. bulge, 28 1/2" height Half Barrel, 13 1/8" head, 16 1/4" diam. bulge, 23" height 1/4 Barrel and 3/4 Barrel sizes also made Barrels for Cranberies: Full Barrel, 16 1/4" head, 18 1/2" bulge, 28 1/2" height Half Barrel, 12 5/8" head, 14" bulge, 22 1/2" height 1/4 Barrel and 3/4 Barrel sizes also made * this size barrel also corresponds to the American and Canadian flat-hooped flour barrel 42 gallon oil barrel: head diameter unknown, bulge unknown, height MAY be 32" as per one source 53 gallon wine barrel: 21 1/4" head diameter, 25 3/4" bulge, 34 7/8" height 59 gallon wine barrel: 22 5/8" head, 27 1/2" bulge, 34 7/8" height 63 gallon wine barrel: 22 5/8" head diameter, 28" bulge diameter, 34 7/8" height 70 gallon "Bordeaux Plus" wine barrel: 24" head, 29" bulge, 37 1/4" height Tobacco Hogshead: 46" diameter head maximim, 54" long staves maximum, bulge unknown. These are filled with "dry" tobacco leaves to a weight of 1100 pounds. Under that weight is charged a penalty, and over that weight is charged additional shipping fee. Almost all of these various sizes will have a standard six hoops of iron. Larger sizes, like hogsheads, will still probably have only six hoops, but they may be wider bands. The smallest kegs may only have four hoops. Of particular note, flour barrels were made with bands of hickory. Flour mills were notoriously dusty and prone to explosion, so it was important to prevent an iron band from hitting a floor nail which could cause a spark, hence the wood hoops. Another exception seems to be the larger (French?) wine barrels which often have eight hoops. By extrapolating from other representative barrel sizes, I come up with the following approximation: 42 gallon oil barrel: 17 5/8" head diameter, 22" bulge, 32" height THIS IS ONLY AN APPROXIMATION, but is probably close enough for most people. As you see, "barrels" come in all sizes. Any particular modeler's needs will vary considerably. I am interested in a whole roadside amassment of tobacco hogsheads. Most anybody else would not even care. I am interested in nail kegs, flour barrels, apple barrels, beer barrels, and maybe an oil barrel or two. No, I don't want a cask of amontillado, thank you. I hope this gives you some idea of the possible scope of the project. Barrels are definitely a thing of the past, but, for those of us modeling the earlier years, are much needed. By the way, did you know that pallets were invented for the military during WWI? There shouldn't be a single one on a 1910 layout. Darrell To REPLY to the list, use REPLY ALL; to reply to the sender, use REPLY. For those of you on DIGEST mode, all REPLY messages go to the list (remember to edit the SUBJECT of your message). Change message settings, use our CALENDAR or LINKS, view shared files or photos, view the list archives, GO TO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
