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The Making of America => Ask the Historians => Topic started by: crazell on March 27, 2011, 10:11:04 PM

Title: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: crazell on March 27, 2011, 10:11:04 PM
what was most commonly used as a stopper for a jug or bottle, other than a cork? time period of 1825 - 1840 mountain man. i thought i would ask fine people of this here site. I've gotten good advice and information here.. thmbsup
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: beowulf on March 27, 2011, 10:14:07 PM
corn cobs have been used for a long time here in the US !
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Watauga on March 27, 2011, 10:30:12 PM
A Carved Wood Stopper?

In our little Band of Folks after the Jug gets Opened it wont need a Stopper Because we Empty the Jug!?! [hmm] hdslp
chrrs chrrs chrrs chrrs chrrs chrrs chrrs chrrs  chrrs chrrs chrrs 
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: crazell on March 28, 2011, 12:49:21 AM
thanks for the info guys... i hear ya about not needing one after we open it up... this one bottle i have is for me and wife...  thmbsup   chrrs chrrs chrrs
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: crazell on March 28, 2011, 01:54:09 AM
is there a particular wood to use, that is better than others???
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: William on March 28, 2011, 02:41:12 AM
Quote from: crazell on March 28, 2011, 01:54:09 AM
is there a particular wood to use, that is better than others???
Some woods are toxic, I would choose a fruitwood myself.  Pine isn't toxic but pine oil might impart a nasty taste.  Don't use any exotic wood like ebony or paduk, those can be bad in ingested.
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: old salt on March 28, 2011, 03:21:38 AM
I have to agree with William on the fruitwood
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Otter on March 28, 2011, 01:59:00 PM
Quote from: William on March 28, 2011, 02:41:12 AM
Quote from: crazell on March 28, 2011, 01:54:09 AM
is there a particular wood to use, that is better than others???
Some woods are toxic, I would choose a fruitwood myself.  Pine isn't toxic but pine oil might impart a nasty taste.  Don't use any exotic wood like ebony or paduk, those can be bad in ingested.
The ancient Greeks used to store their wines in pine barrels to impart a resinous taste. This was done because the Romans demanded a portion of the years production as a tribute. The wine the Greeks actually drank was stored in clay jugs until the Romans caught on and punished the guilty Greeks. To this day there is a Greek wine flavored with pine resin. Let's just say that is a very acquired taste.  :-&
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: William on March 28, 2011, 09:32:48 PM
To this day there is a Greek wine flavored with pine resin- that just sounds awful!  :qz:
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: crazell on March 28, 2011, 09:46:03 PM
William i would have to agree with that :blech: I'm gonna try the fruit wood instead.. like the smell of pine, but i don't thick it sounds good to season with...  thank you for your info Otter. you never know what your gonna learn on here.. ROFL
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Otter on March 28, 2011, 09:55:27 PM
Crazell, you are most welcome Sir. I forgot to wonder if an oak stopper charred a bit on the end might not lend a barrel aged sort of flavor to the brew. I know toasted oak pieces work mighty fine for mead.  chrrs
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: crazell on March 28, 2011, 09:57:59 PM
if the fruit doesn't work for me, I'll give that try thmbsup
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Watauga on March 28, 2011, 10:37:01 PM
I am thinking Cherry wood would look good and not be too hard to carve some decorations into the Stopper?!?
It makes a good looking powder Horn base [hmm] thmbsup chrrs
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: old salt on March 28, 2011, 11:47:37 PM
You can use a candle stub
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Watauga on March 29, 2011, 01:57:34 AM
Quote from: old salt on March 28, 2011, 11:47:37 PM
You can use a candle stub

Yep that would work thmbsup

Except make sure the candle is out if you drink the stuff the badger likes. chrrs
You could BLOW YOUR SELF UP if a flame gets near that Jug  pnic pnic pnic pnic pnic pnic pnic 
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: crazell on March 29, 2011, 02:13:14 AM
i have a question. should i seal the wood with anything? burn it, use a wax? just curious..   well most the time we make a pie strpot with everclear 190  chrrs chrrs good stuff...  but i guess if the badger's around we could put some sterno in it....  ROFL ROFL
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: old salt on March 29, 2011, 03:12:32 AM
Back in the eraly 60s I used to get a good bottle of wine, pop cork and take candle and stick in the mouth and light it and let wax run douwn and that would keep the mooches out of it. They would think it was just a candle holder and was empty.
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: beowulf on March 29, 2011, 12:49:15 PM
I still say the corn cob will do the trick and be pc . I have kin in western md , and west virginia that use them now days , and they`ll tell you grand dad and great grand dad used the same thing !
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: crazell on March 29, 2011, 04:30:20 PM
thanks kindly to all the suggestions, thmbsup i guess I'll try several of the idea's, and then decide.. this is a major reason i like this forum!! now it's up to me to decide.. thanks again everyone.... thmbsup
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: NAULTRICK1 on March 29, 2011, 08:14:34 PM
 ??? WHAT!!!! Ya mean these jugs come with stoppers ??? Stoppers??? We Doan Need No Stinkin' Stoppers ROFL ROFL
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: beowulf on March 29, 2011, 09:11:20 PM
yep ! stoppers do tend to be bothersome when one has a killer thirst  ROFL ROFL
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: crazell on March 29, 2011, 09:15:46 PM
But without one travelling, you might not get to quench your thirst.. chrrs
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Pete Stines on April 18, 2011, 04:25:23 PM
For what it's worth, the Greeks used lead bottles to store wine. The lead leached into the wine and produced a sweet taste. It also produced lead acetate which is toxic. But they probably cast a lead stopper for their containers and coated it with melted wax to seal it. BTW Lead acetate was used later to make match cord used in matchlocks. Saltpeter causes the match to burn too fast and sputter. Of course you wouldn't use lead to store anything drinkable.
Although I don't know about some of the chaps who post on this site.  strpot
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: graybear on April 18, 2011, 10:55:41 PM
With some of these characters, I don't think the potables would be around long enough to be considered stored.
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Otter on April 20, 2011, 05:09:28 AM
Thought for the day on this thread. Consider the implications of lead, drinking water, viaducts for water and the fall of the Roman Empire. Might just be my imagination but there sure seems to be a connection.  [hmm]
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Pete Stines on May 09, 2011, 04:06:39 PM
The Franklin expedition in the 1850's carried rations in tin cans soldered with lead. Bodies that were found near one of the camps show definate signs of lead poisoning, so it's very likely that the Romans suffered the same fate  (susp)
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Rocky on May 09, 2011, 10:30:14 PM
I heard that recently a well known terrorist died of lead poisoning. ;D
Title: Re: what was used for a stopper for my jug/bottle?
Post by: Hawken50 on May 10, 2011, 01:34:25 AM
 ROFL  flwa Nothin says gotcha like a friendly double tap from your local seal team.