User:Imaginatorium/coal measure
( D R A F T A R T I C L E )
Traditionally coal has been measured in a number of ways. Because even at retail it was typically sold in considerable quantities, it was often measured by volume, and the units used were not very precise.
Traditional units of volume
[edit]The following table is reproduced from a book published in 1825 [check]: The pupil's instructive companion, by Samuel Blackburn.
This shows the relations between units, but also warns of variation across the country.
Ship load
[edit]Room
[edit]see List of obsolete units of measurement (which is sourced to Cardarelli, and is both overspecific and wrong, since this is a volume unit)
Keel
[edit]merge Keel (unit) here
Chaldron
[edit]
Note the long brake lever for control when running down to the staith by gravity.
Could include the whole Chaldron article here?
Sack
[edit]List the various different meanings of "sack" in this context. The volume measure in this series give completely different (approx.) weights from the claimed "sack units" of 1 cwt or 2 cwt. Perhaps need a separate section for the "retail" measurement; in the mid-20th century this was certainly by weight, but measured into sacks.
Bushel and Peck
[edit]Standard name for a unit of volume; obviously highly variable.