The brass 'letters' of the Royal toast - ( When viewed on a tub the 'GOD BLESS HER' section appears on one line ).
The Royal toast: Brass letters screwed to the rim of the tub, display the Royal toast:
THE QUEEN GOD BLESS HER
( If the reigning monarch were a King - the Royal toast would of course read: THE KING GOD BLESS HIM ).
The text is arranged in two lines, the upper line displaying THE QUEEN and the lower line, GOD BLESS HER.
The two lines of text are always separated by one of the brass bands, the placement of the brass 'letters' generally being towards the middle of the area between two brass bands.
The 20 gallon tub discussed throughout this page has brass 'letters' cut and shaped from plate, but letters that have been 'cast' are also quite common, it appears especially so on larger tubs. The letters are bent to accept the curve of the tub.
There can be considerable variety between different letters of the same type, the shape of the 'Q' especially and the 'S' to a lesser degree, varieties of the position of fixing hole placement also exist.
Like all other bright work, 'letters' were re-cycled from old damaged tubs to new. On occasion, resulting in a mismatch of font styles, two differently shaped 'S' for example.
The Royal toast from the 20 gallon tub above is displayed in the images below.
I will expand a section covering 'letter' variety when time permits.
Underside of tub: The underside of the tub is made from a
number of oak slats, like the lid, connected
together with dowels.
The outer circumference of the circular base
is chamfered, the chamfered section mating into a groove cut around
the lower portion of the wall of the tub, about 1" ( 25mm ) from the
bottom.
The circular edge of the base is painted red, extending down the tub
wall, below the base, to the bottom rim of the tub, as shown in the
image right.
A red band is also painted onto gallon wicker covered jars and the
inner rim of rum casks, to denote that they contain rum, it is not
unreasonable therefore, to assume that the red band on the base of
a grog tub is for the same reason, however I consider that in this case
the red band has a traditional significance.
Red band Painted around rim of base.
Damage to the lower end of the staves.
Washer holding Acorn captive to 'Star'. Recess in lid to accept protrusion of washer etc.
The image below left, shows the underside of the 'Star'. The shaft of the 'Acorn' passes through the 'Star' from the top to the underside, and then through the centre of a washer, as shown.
The end of the shaft is then pressed over, to expand and crimp to the washer and base of the 'Star',
In order for the 'Star & Acorn' to sit flush to the lid, a small recess is bored into the lid to accept the protrusion 'Acorn' shaft and washer, as shown in the image below right.
Wide, 'knurled' Acorn.
Slim, plain Acorn.
My findings lead me to believe that most 'Acorns' have a plain band around their girth, as shown in the image above.
The vast majority of tubs at museums etc, have plain 'Acorns', a few do however have a 'knurled Acorn', as shown in the image left.
There does not appear to be any rules or pattern, except that 'King' tubs, the few that I have seen with an 'Acorn', are all plain.
The 'Acorn': The origin and traditional significance of the
'Acorn' is that it represents the English Oak,
the main building material of Royal Navy ships
at the time of sail.
The 'Acorn' size and shape varies significantly,
dependant upon the size of 'Star' and the maker.
Two styles of six pointed 'Stars'.
'Star & Acorn' from a 20 Gallon Grog Tub.
Curved edge of lid.
Underside of lid - 20 Gallon Grog tub.
Top surface of lid - 20 Gallon Grog tub.
Water measured into the Grog Tub.
The Lid: Grog tub lids were made from a
number of oak slats, the slats connected
together with wooden dowels.
The underside of the lid has two braces at right angles to the slats, to provide additional strength and to keep the lid centrally located on the tub when in place.
The upper image right, shows the view of the top of the lid, in this case made from four slats.
The 'Star & Acorn' final can be seen in the centre of the lid - discussed below.
The lower image right, shows the underside of the same lid, both strengthening slats running vertical.
The curved edge of the lid is shown in the image below.
'Victualling Store Issue Note' for Grog Tub with Lid.
Royal Navy Grog Tubs.
Royal Navy 'Grog Tubs' were supplied in four sizes: 40, 30, 20 and 10 Gallon. The compliment of the ship or shore establishment determining the size of the tub issued.
Both the 1929 and 1939 Victualling manuals list a unique 'Admiralty Pattern' number for each of the four sizes of 'Grog Tub', without mention of the lid, presumably the lid was therefore included.
The 1951 Victualling manual however, lists the lids as separate items, presumably, at that time, a tub could be ordered without a lid, as the unlidded tub section was the part most likely to become damaged / leak.
The image left shows a 20 Gallon Royal Navy Grog Tub.
This tub was purchased along with supporting
documentation, indicating that it was one of the items sold
during the disposal of rum ration equipment, after the
cessation of the rum issue on 31st July 1970.
See 'Victualling Store Issue Note' below.
Rum issuing equipment was offered for sale to serving
members of the Royal Navy after the cessation of the Rum
Ration.
Those individuals interested in purchasing equipment made
application to do so, listing the items they desired. If over
subscribed, a lottery took place.
My personal opinion is that few 'Grog Tubs' were sold in this
manner by the MOD, perhaps only those that were in
good condition, as there are so few original tubs available
today. Therefore, interest at the time provided the demand
for reproduction tubs to be manufactured - reproduction
'Grog Tubs' are discussed on a separate page.
The information that follows on this page, focuses on the tub
above left, because I am as certain as I possibly can be that
it is genuine.
However, findings from research using the photographic record
and observations at a number of Royal Navy and civilian
museums are also taken into consideration, to reinforce the
accuracy of the information provided.
Rum and water mixed to make 'Grog'.
Grog was made each day, just prior to issue.
Fresh water and neat service rum were mixed together in the 'Grog Tub',
the Grog then being issued to 'Rum Bosuns' for distribution.
'Grog' being a mixture of two parts water and one part rum, the water was
the first to be measured and then poured into the tub. The image left
shows fresh water being poured from a four gallon 'fanny' into a one
gallon 'round' measure, just visible inside the tub.
Neat service rum was added to the 'Grog Tub' after the water, usually by
inverting the 'Barricoe' over the tub - ( The 'Barricoe' already contained the correct amount of neat rum required to make up the days issue of grog, having previously been measured out in the 'Spirit Room'. Alternatively, if a smaller unit, neat service rum was measured from the wicker covered one gallon jars.
The contents of the 'Grog Tub' were then stirred, perhaps with a round measure, to mix the water and neat rum together - ready for issue as 'Grog'.
Star and Acorn final: Located centrally on the top surface of the lid, the brass 'Star & Acorn' final are
effectively the lid handle, but both items have a traditional significance.
Considering firstly the 'Star': The image left, shows a close view of the
'Star & Acorn' from the lid above.
The six pointed 'Star' fixes to the 'Lid' with
three, slotted, countersunk brass screws,
one in each alternate arm of the 'Star', as can be seen in the image left.
The origin and traditional significance of the six pointed star is best
described on Jeff Dykes web site, click the button below to view.
( At the very bottom of Jeffs page ).