The Weights and Measures Regulations 1963

PART IIILIQUID CAPACITY MEASURES

Materials and principles of construction

15.  Liquid capacity measures shall be made of aluminium alloys, copper, copper alloys, earthenware, enamelled-metal, glass, nickel alloys, plated, tinned or galvanised iron or steel, stainless steel, tin alloys, urea formaldehyde plastic or vulcanite, or of any other material approved by the Board.

16.—(1) Liquid capacity measures made of pewter or of other tin alloys shall contain at least 80 per cent. by weight of tin, and shall not contain more than 10 per cent. by weight of lead.

(2) All such measures shall bear the name and address of the maker on the underside of the bottom of the measure.

17.—(1) Liquid capacity measures, made of copper or copper alloys shall be well tinned all over the inside; on plated measures the coating shall show no signs of peeling.

(2) On measures on which there are strengthening ribs or bands, such ribs or bands shall not take such a form as to show, by indentation or otherwise, any divisions on the measure which, in the opinion of the inspector, might reasonably be mistaken for graduations.

18.  Liquid capacity measures, if their maximum purported values are clearly defined, may have a top rim, lip or retaining edge to prevent spilling:

Provided that—

(a)in the case of measures made of metal for the sale of milk and in the form of churns, the top rim, lip or retaining edge shall not increase the capacity of the measure by more than 25 per cent. of its maximum purported value;

(b)in the case of other measures, the top rim, lip or retaining edge shall not increase the capacity of the measure by more than 10 per cent. of its maximum purported value.

19.  No liquid capacity measure shall be so constructed that—

(a)it has a false bottom; or

(b)it does not completely empty when titled to an angle of 120 degrees from the vertical.

20.  In the case of liquid capacity measures fitted with a tap, the tap shall completely empty the measure without tilting.

21.  Publicans' measures made of metal, glass, or earthenware may be provided with a spout or projecting mouth; they may also have a bottom rim but, in the case of measures of a maximum purported value not exceeding 1 pint, such rim shall not project more than half an inch below the bottom of the measure.

22.  Dipping measures made of metal of a maximum purported value not exceeding half a gallon for use for the sale of milk shall be of circular or elliptical section with vertical sides, and the height shall not be more or less by 10 per cent. than 1½ times the mean diameter of the section.

23.  Liquid capacity measures made of glass, other than apothecaries measures, shall have their maximum purported values defined either—

(a)by the brim of the measure; or

(b)by a line not less than 2 inches in length, and distant not less than half an inch nor more than 1½ inches from the brim.

24.  Liquid capacity measures made of earthenware shall have their maximum purported values defined either—

(a)by the brim of the measure; or

(b)by an indelible line marked on the inside of the measure, so that—

(i)in the case of measures of a maximum purported value not exceeding 1 quart, the distance from the bottom of the line to the brim does not exceed three-eights of an inch;

(ii)in the case of measures of other maximum purported values, the said distance does not exceed three-quarters of an inch.

25.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this regulation, any liquid capacity measure (other than a measure made of metal of a maximum purported value of half a gallon or less or 2½ litres or less) may be used for trade by means of any division or subdivision marked thereon as a capacity measures of any lesser quantity.

(2) In the case of measures made of glass which are subdivided by graduations, the total number of graduations on the measure shall be marked thereon and all graduations shall be marked by clearly defined lines, which shall—

(a)in the case of measures of a maximum purported value of 1 gallon or less (other than an apothecaries measure), be not less than 1 inch in length; and

(b)be not less than one-twelfth of an inch apart.

(3) In the case of measures made of metal which are subdivided by graduations, all graduations shall be marked by clearly defined lines and, if such measures are for use for the sale of milk and are—

(a)of a maximum purported value not exceeding 5 gallons, the graduations shall be marked on two metal strips fixed opposite to each other inside the measure; or

(b)of a maximum purported value exceeding 5 gallons, the graduations shall be marked either on a metal strip inside the measure and extending to the whole depth of the measure or on metal tablets securely soldered to the measure.

26.—(1) Liquid capacity measures shall have their maximum purported value conspicuously, legibly and durably marked on the outside of the body of the measure (and not upon the handle, bottom, rim or edges) either in full or by means of one of the following abbreviations only:—

• gal

• qt

• pt

• fl.oz

• fl.dr

• min

• l

• dl

• cl

• ml.

(2) The maximum purported value shall be marked—

(a)on measures made of glass on which the said value is defined by a line, at the line;

(b)on measures made of enamelled-metal, in a distinctly different colour from that of the body of the measure;

(c)on measures made of metal for use for the sale of milk and of a said value exceeding 5 gallons, on the graduated strip or the topmost tablet as well as on the outside of the measure;

(d)on measures made of sheet metal, by means of embossing, engraving or impressing on the body of the measure or on a slip of tin or on a shield securely soldered to the measure.

27.—(1) Apothecaries measures which are subdivided shall be made of glass and shall be of the conical or cylindrical type.

(2) If such measures are marked with an indication of their equivalent purported values in terms of weight, the words “of water” shall also be marked on the measure in close proximity to the said indication.

Testing

28.—(1) Liquid capacity measures of maximum purported values between 8 gallons and one-sixth of a gill inclusive, shall be tested by transferring water from the local or working standard into the measure under test.

(2) Measures—

(a)with a lip or rim, shall be tested to the bottom of the lip or rim;

(b)on which the purported value is defined by a line, shall be tested to the top of the line by taking the level of the water at the bottom of the meniscus.

29.  Part II of Schedule I hereto shall have effect for prescribing limits of error in relation to liquid capacity measures.

Stamping

30.  The stamp shall be placed on liquid capacity measures as follows:—

(a)on measures made of glass, earthenware, enamelled-metal, urea formaldehyde plastic or vulcanite, it shall be etched or sand-blasted beneath or near to the indication of the purported value on the outside of the measure;

(b)on measures made of metal (other than enamelled-metal) which are subdivided, it shall be placed both on solder affixed to the inside strips or tablets near to the top-most graduation and also on the outside of the measure near to the indication of the purported value;

(c)on measures made of metal which are not subdivided and which have no lip or rim, it shall be placed near to the indication of the purported value on the outside of the measure;

(d)on measures made of metal (other than enamelled-metal) which are not subdivided but which have a lip or rim, it shall, as far as practicable, be placed on the bottom of the inside of the lip or rim;

(e)on measures other than those specified in the preceding sub-paragraphs of this regulation, it shall be placed on a plug or stud of soft metal provided for such use.