What Are The Large Jars For?

[Phodgetts]

I wonder what the 'insulated' jars were used for at the time this photo was taken. I think it is the Gateshead area. Might it for a brewery, or perhaps something to do with the war effort?

Philip

[PaulineJ]

It's a carboy (for holding acid)

[Phodgetts]

Ah...... so the wicker and straw is to protect the bottle from knocks rather than insulation.

[Michael Dixon]

 I remember in 1940/50s I lived in Bebside Colliery village. The houses had no electricity, no water, but a gas supply for lighting (and plenty of mice.)

 My uncle was one of the few men in the village who was not a coalminer- he was a car mechanic and general handyman with a wee workshop/garage.

 And he was in demand for recharging/refilling the acid batteries we all used for our radios. So he had several carboys available ( just like ones in the foto) filled with acid. Folk used to take their glass batteries to his garage for recharging, carrying them by their handles.

No carrying-on allowed as spills/splashes could burn !


Michael

[bykerlads]

Love the photo.
These look like feisty lasses and  no mistake!
"keep smiling through" must have been their motto.
If they were working with chemicals it can't have been an easy time for them.
Well done ladies! and thanks for your efforts in the War ( though I guess there won't be many of them still with us now)

[barryd]

Typical photograph of that era. One male supervisor, exempt or not fit for war service and the women who do the work!

[bykerlads]

Yes, I've similar photos of my mum and her workmates who worked in textile mills during the 1940's- dreadful wrap-around smocks, headscarves to protect hair from the muck but still their youth and prettiness shines through,
Good lasses, all.

[blythboy]

These are known as Demijohns and Carboys - the difference being that the first was used for potable liquids the latter for chemicals, particuarly acids. The wicker was to protect against breakage. The word Carboy is still in use in the chemical industry for large plastic containers of acid.

[joboy]

I remember in 1940/50s I lived in Bebside Colliery village. The houses had no electricity, no water, but a gas supply for lighting (and plenty of mice.)

 My uncle was one of the few men in the village who was not a coalminer- he was a car mechanic and general handyman with a wee workshop/garage.

 And he was in demand for recharging/refilling the acid batteries we all used for our radios. So he had several carboys available ( just like ones in the foto) filled with acid. Folk used to take their glass batteries to his garage for recharging, carrying them by their handles.

No carrying-on allowed as spills/splashes could burn !


Michael

The acid batteries for wirelesses (now called radios) were known as 'Accumulators' and were refilled by a local store that had carboys.
I had the job of going to the store on a weekly basis to change our exhausted battery for a recharged one.
Cant remember the cost though ..... it was a few pennies in my hand.
Joe