Another day and more epic finds once I cut my way through all of the junk!! #metaldetecting #metaldetectinguk #treasurehunting #xpdeusii #detecting #treasure #thescottishdetectorist #treasurehunt #metaldetectingscotland #deus2
Hello from a retired Excise man, later re-educated into a VATman, but we won't talk about that. Each time there was a change of Monarch, weights and measures were stamped with the current monarch's mark as and when they were tested by my predecessors. As George IV and his brother William IV only ruled in their own names for 10 and 7 years respectively, it's less common to find their monograms impressed on measures. The number beneath the initials denotes the location ( Excise Office ) of the certification. The latest one on your jug seems to be Victoria, so it was lost after 1837. However, on 1 Jan 1891 the law changed and any pewter volume measures had to be re-stamped on the body of the vessel and not just the rim. As your measure doesn't have this, that sets the date by which time your jug had been lost. Yes, I am a bundle of laughs at parties. Peter
I do hope he never runs out of the fields of Perthshire. The Dutch Metal Detectorists ran out of bullets and helmets etc and were reduced to buttons. It was tragic. He is the best. I’m not sure why. It is his historical knowledge and amusing monologue but he has something special and undefinable (which I hope his metal detecting hating wife eventually comes to appreciate)
Hello, my Scottish Detectorist friend. It’s 9/15/2023 and your sub’s are at 33.2k…far beyond what you had anticipated. And your viewers keep growing by about 100 subs/week…that’s AWESOME. Many other detectorists, I can’t even watch or they bore me. Your gift of gab and your brilliant history lessons give you a definite edge. Blessings my friend.
It was normal for spirit measures to be re certified by customs and excise over many decades. I think you have a wonderful item that was certified originally in Victoria’s reign judging by the larger stamp nearest the handle. It may also be earlier with the larger VR stamp just showing off. You should be able to trace each stamp to a particular excise agent. Brilliant find and onwards to 50,000 subscribers by the end of 2023.
The stamps around the rim of the measure are from the weights and measures men calling unannounced at a pub to make sure the landlord was not giving out sort measures to customers . Usually the stamp is a date and the monarch and would be repeated each time they tested it. Maybe Robbie himself stamped one of the assays!
Loving the lightbox at the end. That, I think was the one thing I found missing from you previous videos, the cleanup. Would love to see some of those previous silver Romans under in the lightbox! Or any new ones you unearth. Keep digging! 🙂
I think this is one of the reasons your channel is growing so fast. You are keeping it real, and when you find something you are genuinly interested, studying the find and telling a story.
Our very own Robert Burns was an Excise man / Gauger and the stamps as seen on your wee quart were part of there service to ensure the local Inn or public house was issuing the correct measures ! especially as taxes were involved personally it looks like yours has been used in the sale of alcohol for many a year going by the number of stamps ( all stamps were noted in the excise mans log and these would be checked off during one of their unannounced visits to ensure no short measures were being served up by the landlord ).
You are a sweetheart - you are in a win win position because of the interesting detecting stuff - the history that you provide for all of us - you are one of the best You Tube presenters at what you do. I really enjoy watching and thank you! I thought that little jug would be a measure for whiskey - what a wonderful find! I also thought that little jug could be for the poor people that were hung - so interesting and also bless their souls.
The 1/4 gill is what we call a Shot Glass here in the US. I wonder if all the stamps were “certification” stamps for taxing the liquor or something? It could be, if that is the case, that it was used across multiple monarchs. 🤷🏻♂️
They were formal confirmation that the measures being poured were of official standard volume. Serving from measures which did not bear official endorsement was illegal. Pouring the whisky into an unstamped (and therefore unofficial) measure might make your customers a little angry too. That is if you can understand that pub landlords would not be using larger than official measures to reduce their own profits.
In Great Britain, the standard single measure of spirits in a pub was 1⁄6 gill (23.7 mL) in England, and 1⁄5 gill (28.4 mL) in Scotland, while the 1⁄4 gill (35.5 mL) was also a common measure in Scotland, and still remains as the standard measure in pubs in Ireland.
Or 1/4 of 1/4 of a pint or 1 ounce or the measure of a standard shot. I don’t understand why this was this was complicated by doing a metric conversion first.
Great finds! That measure, a quarter Jill, would give you the right amount for a Dram of Whiskey; roughly 35 ml depending on age. Apparently a Wee Dram would be 25ml, and a Large Dram would be 35ml, and could vary slightly depending on your location. I've never commented before, so I'd just like to say thank you for sharing your adventures. I really enjoy your channel, your 20,000 subs are well deserved. I look forward to many more to come. Thank you!
love that jug, what an amazing find and so well preserved for a field find (how that has avoided the plow for this long I have no idea). the theory about it being involved with the 'last drop' rights for the hangings is fascinating. I agree that it looks Georgian, so you are probably right about it being re-stamped multiple times during the Victorian period
Hi John, love the channel. The stamps on the pewter measure are when the vessel has been checked by weights and measures to make sure the publican /alcohol seller was not ripping off the public by selling short measures, apparently they used to just turn up and do checks on your measures and then give you a stamp to show all was legit, the number of stamps would suggest it had been checked a number of times by different weights and measures officers,apparently the publicans used to stick a couple of coins in the bottom so there would be less spirit held and therfore a short measure.
Wow, what an amazing find in that quarter gill tankard. Just shows perseverence pays off. Nip = 1/4 gill (36ml). Introduced in the 14th century to measure whiskey or wine. ( the gill, or jill, was twice the size of a jack). King Charles 1st scaled down the "jack" or "jackpot", (sometimes called a double jigger) in 1625 to collect more taxes, hence, Jack came tumbling after.
You enjoy forever! I tell everyone I know about your site. It's just damn fun!! Thank you! Hope you remember us when your famous!! Oh and the bell looks like jingle bells on a horse for a sleigh ride??
Your absolutely right John, it's a spirit measure my parent's were licencees and I grew up in pubs in the 50s and 60s and, recognised instantly what it was. I hadn't see one for decades, a great find and a nice potential background story to go with it 're the last drop excellent stuff.
I'm sorry that your hunt was plagued with aluminum cans.....but, I'm SO GLAD you pushed thru it!! That pewter "measure" is one of the absolute coolest things I've ever seen dug!! I absolutely LOVE IT!! And another thing...I don't want you to stop talking! As cool as that find was....it wouldn't have been nearly as intersting without the great story to go with it!! ....Ooooo, spooky!! Lol😂 Great vid, today!! Thank you!!
I stumbled across this channel some weeks ago and I love the fact you give us all a history lesson ! It's lovely to not just look at the finds as what it's value might be, but I do love the knowledge of what age it possibly can be ! It's very refreshing ....keep it up ! It's good stuff and some lovely finds .
Another lovely video, well done. The spirit measure is fab. An Edinburgh pub I frequented back in the day had a set of pewter measures behind the bar, though they were for display rather than measuring, I think they were Victorian, but they looked very similar to yours, so I knew what it was when you pulled it out of the earth. Congrats for reaching 20k subscribers!
Great video, as always, and wonderful finds! The stamps look like official recertification stamps required on a regular schedule by law. I once found an apothecary measuring cup that had 9 separate letter stamps indicating which years it had been recertified. Keep up the great videos and happy digging, Dave.
As of April 27, 2023, the Page now says 20.3 subscribers. Odd... Can't believe that ANY people, once they _FOUND_ your Channel, would EVER leave! Must have been an error, somewhere, somehow ....
Hi John. I found your channel when searching metal detecting after very much enjoying "The detectorists" on TV. I've binge watched all your 2023 videos. Echoing everyone else, well done, and thank you. Your presentation is 1st class.
So much history, Well done Sir. I being 64 years old and have done a fair share of detecting in and around Savannah Georgia where I live and around the world being a military brat, like Germany, Japan and a day in Canada, I have a very small collection of things. Would have had 2 WW2 German helmets many empty shell casing and one sword that was bronze but in 1975 the German costum official at Frankfort airport took them an I never saw them again. But it was fun holding them, I was told by a man in Germany that the sword was from the bronze age because of the markings on the blade but I was only 14 at the time using an old military metal detector my father gave me. But I really like how you explain what you find and I really pray you find you a ton of silver and gold soon..
I did not know that about the Nursery rhyme!!! Every day is a school day when I watch your videos my friend. 👍👍😉 The light box is a nice touch and hopefully we can help with identifying stuff in the future. 20,200 subs as I watch this!!! Fantastic John.👏👏👏👏
@The Scottish Detectorists Congratulations on 20,300 subscribers and Happy Birthday, I think the stamp are recertification stamps, when the pup would have paid their tax stamp or weights and measures tax there is a website that has all the various stamps and approx years used
The bell looks like a horse harness bell, they were made from brass with a little iron ball inside. You still see them today at horse shows where Clydesdales are being judged, they're part of the traditional harness wear. The wee measure is a great find! Lucky you 😀 PS - congrats on 20,000, well deserved
Exactly. In the US they were also called sleigh bells. Many were attached to a leather strip that was part of the horse tack. Most, I've seen are not as round as that is. A lot of them look like large jingle bells. Brad Martin of Green Mountain (Vermont) Metal Detecting, always seems to find them or half of one
Can't win em all John but you did manage some lovely bucket list finds and still managed to give us another fascinating history lesson on measure and measures of whiskey etc and the story of the last drink in the gallows always apleasyre to hear your knowledge of history thanks for sharing and keep up the hard work thoroughly deserved 20.5k as I watch this well done 👏🏻
Great channel!! Neat little find. It’s about an ounce,to measure out alcohol or medication. It’s called a loupe, (or magnifying glass). Pewter scratches easily,use a cloth on it A hangman’s hill,interesting! Finally a Scotsman that I can understand your accent and don’t need the closed captions😂
John! The treasures you produce are staggering! Your vids are hands down the best on u-tube!!! You deserve it all! Congrats on the magnificent finds and another mind blowing hunt!!!!! 👍👍👍👍👍
from someone who detects in Canada and Costa Rica primarily I have to say your channel has become my favourite. Absolutely delightful! And of course your historic finds are beyond anything I ever expect to find. Also, I see you have surpassed 20,000 subscribers...congrats!
No danger of the bubble bursting, more subs = more views = greater interaction = recommended more by the algorithm - more subs, well that and the fact that you produce great content. Later crotal bell about 200 - 300 years old I reckon. On the drink measure the 47 mark with the crown over it could be something to do with the 47th Regiment of foot (called the Lancashire Regiment but they were originally a Scots regiment raised in the mid 18th C.) or they could be assay marks from the weights and measures people, Georgian and Victorian ones.
I would use that measuring cup when cooking for sure, it's so cool! I've had days where all I've dug is aluminum and it's so frustrating. Even though I enjoy seeing all your amazing finds it's also nice to see you have days like I do. Your channel is a lot of fun - thank you!
Love the history lesson with everything. Unlike almost every detecting channel out there. Terragermania does a similar style. Keep up the good work sir! I'll be watching.
Lightbox? Photo scale? We're going to turn you into an archaeologist yet. Welcome to the team! Don't expect much pay but we are always trying to get to the pub at the end of the day.
I’m so glad you were finally rewarded for all your hard work! The tiny jug is fantastic, the history just boggles the mind. Who knows what secrets the ground is hiding. I hope you find them all!
The struggles are real in detecting and you showing the world that part of the struggle is awesome, because as you know one great find such as the mug makes digging all the rubbish with while. Thank you for such a realistic perspective of this wonderful hobby! And congrats on the Pewter 1/4Gill Mug.
Try the pewter society. As long as you are not selling it. They may help identify it for you. They also say that it may have multiple pewter maker initials. One who made it and one that sold it. An interesting bit on information on their site.
I just found your channel this week and I have been binging Amazing finds An amazing Production production you do a great job Thank you for the entertainment
Have your ever found out more information on the measure cup? It seems comparable to a “shot glass” across the pond. Just wondering if the finds expert had more information on all of the markings? You always persevere and get the best finds! So jealous!
I just think your patience did pay off with those two brilliant finds! We’ll done and whatever you find your vids are the best entertainment on You tube! You’ll continue to get many more subscribers if you keep doing what your doing 👍
Keep rambling young fella. We all enjoy the history lessons and being able to view the object at the same time, just make it so much better. All the little numbers and odd stamps on lip of the measuring cup, would be the different assayers view marks, as these official measures were govt property and had to be checked for accuracy at regular intervals. If the publican was caught using an unofficial, or untested measure, would mean loss of licence and large fine. I love your light box and card. Really makes the end of the video. 👏👏👏👏👏🥃🥃
Amazing finds. I would have never known that was a measure, I would have thought it was a doll's jug lol. The shape and style looks tudor-ish to me. Wow just looked! Congrats on over20k subbies! 😳
Congratulations on hitting 20 000 subscribers You deserve so much more and I know it will happen for you Thank you for your hard work and bringing us along for the ride
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a gill as "a measure of liquids containing one fourth of a standard pint." Thus, at one-fourth of a pint, a gill equates to four ounces. With two pints to the quart and four quarts to the gallon, there are 32 gills to the gallon
