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Antique Nautical Water Casks, Water Kegs - Authentic Nautical Antiques and Naval Antiques: The Wooden Oak Rum Barrel or Rum Cask, Navy Grog Barrel or Navy Grog Keg, Water Cask or Water Keg Used to Dispense Rum, Grog, and Water Aboard Naval Ships and Merchant Vessels during the Civil War Through WWII
Perfect as small end tables when upended for small plates, mugs, cups and even reading or room lamps. Made to be functional without losing the beautiful nautical look and ambience ! This sound suggestion came from a good friend and client (Thanks, Tom)
Call The Pirate's Lair @ 540-659-6209

sampling and examples of different types and sizes of wooden water casks or water kegs

Above photo to the left illustrates a collection of late 19th and early 20th century nautical antiques including some examples of different types of wooden casks or wooden kegs used aboard ship to store navy grog, rum, and water, and in lifeboats to dispense fresh water, rum and grog.

Above photo to the right illustrates both naval antiques and nautical antiques in a maritime home office. Note the two water casks on the floor on either side of the bench, and an 8" 55 caliber naval gunfire shell which came off of a US Navy heavy Cruiser! To the right of the trunk one can see two 19th century US Navy water basins which were used aboard ship prior to the advent of running water! Both water basins (also known as hygieneware) have the initials USN under glaze and are exactly like the water basins found aboard the USS Monitor when she was salvaged a number of years ago.

Turned on end these casks make for functional nautical end tables!

Turned on end these casks make for functional nautical end tables!

PERFECT use upended as small end tables which can easily and safely hold large mugs, cups and saucers and the small dessert plate! This great idea came from a good friend of The Lair, thanks Tom!

Turned on end these casks make for functional nautical lamp tables!

Turned on end these casks make for functional nautical lamp tables!

The photo to the left shows how an upturned water cask or rum cask can be used as a side table for a lamp with a second keg being used for a large mug! The casks and kegs are able to keep their nautical appeal while also being functional.

All of these antique nautical wooden water casks or water kegs are made of oak and six galvanized footed steel rings or steel bands so as to provide balance, prevent rust and retard oxidation from the humidity, water and salt indemic to sailing on the high seas. The squatness of the kegs and feet also helped to stabilize the wooden cask during rough seas.

Unless otherwise noted the standard construction each of these rum casks or rum kegs also have threaded brass bung holes in the top of the cask and brass spigots on the side.

While there is never any marker marks imprinted onto these water casks they all seem to have been produced by more than a single manufacturer but each using very specific standard specifications, very similar to what the Navy or government agency would require using multiple vendors for a single standardized item.

british royal navy serving grog or rum during Boer War of 1899 - Note rum cask on the deck!

british royal navy serving grog or rum during Boer War of 1899 - Note rum cask on the deck!

british royal navy serving grog 1937 - Note rum cask on the deck!

These wooden water kegs were not only used to distribute water below decks and as safety equipment aboard lifeboats, but were also used to collect from the ships purser the daily rum ration (or grog) for the various messes aboard the ship when the rum ration was a staple part of every sailor's day (see photo below!).

Photo to the left shows British Royal Navy sailors being served their daily ration of rum or grog. But note the oblong wooden casks or kegs in front of the larger rum barrel! They look EXACTLY like the water kegs and casks being offered here, same shape, same size, same number of retaining straps, same type of feet so they don't roll around on the deck. Upon magnification the larger cask has the word RUM written on it. Both have round openings on top and spigots on the side. british royal navy serving grog or rum channel fleet circa 1907 - Note rum cask on the deck!

british royal navy serving grog or rum channel fleet circa 1907 - Note rum cask on the deck!

Note the smaller squat rum keg to the far right between the two sailors.

These Antique Naval Wooden Water Casks or Water Kegs were used aboard both US Navy and Merchant Marine throughout the mid to late 19th Century and early to mid 20th Century. These Antique Nautical pieces of shipboard equipment were multi-purpose: to hold water for use below decks in the berthing spaces prior to shipboard plumbing, to hold the rum ration or grog when it was a daily ration, and as standard equipment on lifeboats.

Antique Small Water Cask or Water Keg #6 Round Body without Feet, Iron Bands. Still has Original Wood and Cork cock	Click Photo!	12"x15"	~~$95.~~ SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #7 Medium Dark Oak Wood with Bare Galvanized Metal Rings. Single Handle, Round Oblong Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top	Click Photo!	20"x8"	$250.	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #8 Medium Dark and Light Natural Oak Wood with Gray Paint Remnants, Bare Metal Galvanized Rings. Single Handle, Round Oblong and Squat Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top. Still has some gray paint remnants.	Click Photo!	18"x9"	$250.	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #9 Dark Body with Bare Galvanized Metal Rings. Dual Handle, Round Oblong and Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top	Click Photo!	21"x9"	$325.	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #10 Light Original Oak Wood with Bare Metal Galvanized Rings. Dual Handle, Round Oblong and Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top	Click Photo!	22"x9"	~~$325.~~ SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #11 Very Dark Oak Body with Black Painted Galvanized Metal Rings. Dual Handle, Round Oblong and Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top	Click Photo!	21"x9"	~~$325.~~ SOLD	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #12 Light Oak Wood Finish with Bare Metal Galvanized Rings. Single Handle, Round Oblong and Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Spigot on Side and Filler on Top. Surface stress crack on two staves. Wooden handle is missing.	Click Photo!	18"x8"	$225.	Call To Order 540 659 6209
RARE! Antique Naval Rum, Grog, Water Barrel or Keg #13 Single bale handle. The bottom is wider than the top for stability while at sea. One bung hole for putting grog or water in with a brass spigot for dispensing.	Click Photo!	12" bottom x 10" top x 12" high	~~$350.~~Sold	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Naval Rum, Grog, Water Cask or Keg #14 Dark Oak Wood Body with Bare Galvinized Metal Rings. Single bale handle water, rum or grog cask or keg with 6 galvanized metal bands and feet against rusting in salt water. In excellent condition.	Click Photo!	18"x8"	~~$250.~~ SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209

Below are links to other Antique Nautical and Naval Artifacts which you may be interested in.

Click HERE to our Fully Restored Antique Trunks Re-Used as Fine Nautical Furniture and Navy Retirement Gift - Shadowbox and Uniform Storage!

Click HERE for WWII US Navy Anchor China, Matching Dinnerware for the Anchor Navy Silverware

Click HERE for Nautical Antique Trunks Which Look Like Captains Sea Chests, Treasure Chests, Pirate Chests - Great to Re-Use as a Navy Retirement Shadowbox and Storage for Uniforms and Memorabilia

OPTIONAL - Trunk Wood Engraving Examples and Prices Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest	Click Here To Review Sample Engravings	Personalize Your 100+ Year Old Antique Trunk in Perpetuity!
Antique Trunks as a Shadow Box and Storage Chest! Customer Photographic Examples of our Antique Trunks Being used as a Military or Naval Retirement Shadow Box and Storage Chest!!	Click Here for Sample Shadow Box Photographs From Customers	Why just get a shadow box or a newly made trunk with no history! One of our 100+ Year Old Nautical Antique Trunks can be used for both a Shadow Box and Storage Chest for your Uniforms, Photograph Albums, and Memorabilia!

Rare 1880 to Early 1890's Photograph of Antique Trunk Factory and Workers Using Albumen Silver Print Method, Mounted to a Period Board Which Dates The Photo
Note the Flatop and Two Monitor or Waterfall Trunks, Each Being Individually Unique at the Very Time of Production.

Click Photo For Larger View and More Historical Information!

The Pirate's Lair Exclusive!
We all romanticize about the mystique of these antique trunks. The possible owners and travels that each steamer trunk has taken, along with the high level of detailed craftsmanship in the original production of each and every steamer trunk with that individualized character giving both intrinsic and non-intrinsic value.

However the truth of the matter is that the majority of these trunks were made towards the middle to end of the 19th century just at the dawning of the industrial revolution here in America when there were no child labor laws or protections. This rare photo clearly illustrates at least 3 generations of owners and workers, ages appearing to range from pre-teen/adolescent, teens/early adult, through middle to old age!
It was a common practice that loyal and productive craftsmen would be allowed to bring their children to work with them to learn a craft, so many of the children in this photograph were more than likely sons of the men shown.

Note the adolescent factory workers on top row! Note that there are no women in the photo! This is due to the fact that at that time "proper" women did not work outside of the home, certainly not in a factory. Everybody appears to look pretty stern, having on their arms crossed and "work" faces put on.
Copy of Photo On Request With Every Trunk Purchase

The Pirate's Lair
Division of DataCity, Inc.
78 Canterbury Drive
Stafford, Virginia 22554
Phone: 540-659-6209

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Music Credits: Donald Where's Your Trousers/Drunken Sailor medley by The Bards

ANY TEXT BELOW THIS LINE IS SOLEY FOR THE BENEFIT OF SEARCH BOTS, SPYDERS AND OTHER DENIZENS OF THE DEEP DARK ~~SEA~~ INTERNET These Antique Naval Water Casks or Water Kegs were used by the US Navy and Merchant Marine throughout the mid to late 19th Century and early to mid 20th Century. These Antique Nautical pieces of equipment were multi-purpose to hold water for use below decks in the berthing spaces, to hold the rum ration or grog when it was a daily ration, and as standard equipment on lifeboats.

These were Antique Nautical Water Kegs were of standard construction using Oak Staves, 6 Galvanized Metal Riveted Straps with two feet, brass spigot or cock and top filler, the insides of these antique nautical casks were also fired to make the inside surface charcoaled to prevent spoilage of the water. These materials were used specifically for shipboard use in that they resisted both weather and salt water.