The Weights and Measures Regulations 1963

PART IV DRY CAPACITY MEASURES

Materials and principles of construction

31.—(1) Dry capacity measures shall be made of aluminium alloys, copper, copper alloys, plated, tinned or galvanised steel or iron, stainless steel or well-seasoned wood, or of any other material approved by the Board.

(2) Measures made of wood shall not be turned from the solid nor made of sappy wood.

(3) Measures of a maximum purported value of half a bushel (4 gallons) or more shall be provided with handles.

32.  Dry capacity measures of a maximum purported value not exceeding 1 bushel (8 gallons) shall be of cylindrical shape, with the internal diameter approximately equal either to the depth or to twice the depth, the difference between the internal diameter and the depth being not greater than 5 per cent. of the depth or twice the depth respectively.

33.—(1) Dry capacity measures made of wood (other than measures made of wicker or other open material) of a maximum purported value of 1 gallon or more shall be bound or strengthened with metal or wooden straps or hoops.

(2) Such measures of a maximum purported value of 1 peck (2 gallons) or more shall have a metal band fixed around the rim.

34.  Dry capacity measures shall have their purported values marked thereon in like manner as they are marked on liquid capacity measures, except that—

(a) in the case of measures made of wood (other than measures made of wicker or other open material), the said values shall be marked by branding;

(b) in the case of measures made of wicker or other open material, they shall be marked on a brass tablet or plate fastened to the measure by means of copper wire, or by branding on a tablet of wood securely worked into the side of the measure.

Testing

35.—(1) Dry capacity measures (other than measures made of wicker or or other open material) shall be tested either with water or in the following manner with rape seed:—

(a) the local or working standard of corresponding purported value shall be filled with seed which has been passed through a hopper, a vertical distance of 6 inches being left between the bottom of the hopper and the top of the standard; if the seed has been lying unused prior to the test, it shall be passed at least 6 times through the hopper;

(b) all the seed contained in the standard shall then be replaced in the hopper and thence run from the hopper into the measure under test, which shall be so placed that the same vertical distance of 6 inches intervenes between the bottom of the hopper and the top of the measure;

(c) the seed shall be levelled by means of a strike (made of hard wood, circular in section and 1½ inches in diameter) being swept across both the standard and the measures as quickly and lightly as possible to prevent any undue settlement or vibration.

(2) Measures made of wicker or other open material shall be similarly tested by means of cereals of the smallest size practicable.

36.  Part II of Schedule 1 hereto shall have effect for prescribing limits of error in relation to dry capacity measures.

Stamping

37.—(1) Dry capacity measures made of metal shall be stamped near the brim in a vertical line with the indication of the purported value. Where necessary, such measures shall be provided with a plug of soft metal to receive the stamp.

(2) Measures made of wood (other than measures made of wicker or other open material) shall be branded on the outside in a line vertical with the indication of the purported value and, in the case of new measures, also in the inside angle at the bottom of the measure.

(3) Measures made of wicker or other open material shall be stamped on a tablet, plate or fastening affixed in such a manner that it cannot be removed without defacing the stamp.