Antique Richardson’s Half Gill Patent Measure – Circa 1870 – 75

A heavy glass measure of ovoid form, etched ‘Richardson’s Patent CY63’ and with stamped lead seal bearing the arms of the City of Glasgow and ½ Gill engraved on the side. This and other measures were developed by William Haden Richardson of the Stourbridge glass making family. On 31st December 1869, whilst manager of James Couper and Sons in Glasgow, Richardson took out a patent for the invention of ‘a new method of indicating stamping with the standard mark, or otherwise, crystal or glass measures for containing spirits, beer and other liquids’. The metal insert was stamped by an inspector of the Board of Trade H:12cm