Pint Copper Measure Jug/pitcher Origins, Timeframe, Kast?

Discussion in 'Metalware' started by Ladybranch, Feb 8, 2017.

  1. Ladybranch

    Ladybranch Well-Known Member

    I have a copper 1 pint wide mouth jug/pitcher marked with "Pure Copper Kast" in the bottom that isn't worth a "plug nickel." Anyway, recently saw a similar one on eBay that piqued my interest back to mine. My mother had mine since at least the late 1940s in New England. I haven't a clue when, where or from who she got it. The interior has been peeling copper since I first took notice of it. What interests me is the stamp in the bottom, "Pure Copper Kast." It is readable only by looking down into the pitcher/jug. There is no measure mark on the sides or anywhere telling quantity it holds.

    It stands from bottom to top of spout 4 3/4" (height); width from front of spout to back of handle 5 1/8"; diameter of bottom 3 1/2". The edges around the top are rolled under as well as the edges of the handle. It has several repairs as several bumps and dents look like they have been pushed out as well as repairs on the solder.

    This is probably a dump question but what does "Kast" impressed in the bottom mean? I thought at first it might be Dutch for something, but kast in Dutch means a cabinet, storage unit like a hutch, etc... Do you think it means cast, like pure copper cast? With the peeling of the copper in the bottom, to me seems to be copperplate like copper on tin?

    Here is the one I spotted on eBay. It is a 1/2 pint measure with the same impressed "Pure Copper Kast" in the bottom. Note it has "1/2 Pt Liquid" impressed on the side.
    http://www.ebay.ca/itm/172463631657?rmvSB=true

    Love for opinions on age, origins and meaning of Kast.

    TIA.

    --- Susan

    CopperFull.jpg

    CopperFt.jpg

    CopperHandle.jpg

    CopperInt.jpg CopperBottom.jpg
     
  2. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    The inside is suffering from a bad case of acid corrosion.Someone didn't clean the inside after the solder repair or left a corrosive in it.It is not a "cast" piece,it was made out of sheet copper.
     
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  3. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    From the Urban Dictionary

    Kast
    Something great in reasonable quantities.

    Kast
    Alpha and Omega, the One who defines perfection, to be great and better then everyone around you. There can only be one.

    There are several manufacturing companies with the name Kast in the US and at least one in the UK
    Maybe the makers name.
     
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  4. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    those guys must think a lot of themselves....:blackeye::hilarious:
     
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  5. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    Funny there isn't anything more on the google. I know I've seen that text a number of times on similar items.

    The old sloppy solder can be cleaned up. The white lead oxide on the surface of it makes it harder to melt off but the quantity underneath should help.

    It's at least worth its weight in #2 copper.
     
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  6. Ladybranch

    Ladybranch Well-Known Member

    Thank you, Holly, for explaining what the possible causes of the interior damage. I haven't ever and never will use it for any liquid. I have it on a window shelf over the sink with a few other copper thingies.

    I really didn't think it wasn't a cast piece because of the peeling of the copper. I did wonder if the copper was peeling away from tin. That I think would be unusual for I would think the lining would be tin; therefore, tin would be peeling away from the copper. Gee, I just don't know how these copper measures were made like did measures like these have a tin lining or was the whole thing made of sheets of copper????

    Very interesting. Thank you, Davey, for the research and new ideas! Great, perfect, better, etc.... certainly are words that many many companies incorporate into their names. Nowwww here in the states I doubt very very few would know that kast can mean those terms. I bet it's your last thought, "makers name." As I was searching around up did come across the surname Kast here in the states. Did find there was in 1910 a Kast Copper and Sheet Iron Co. in Buffalo, NY. Could not find out anything else about it. At first I thought Dutch, but with the English words "Pure Copper" I quickly dropped that idea. I do believe the surname Kast has roots to Germany/Prussia and possibly to Denmark?

    Thank you for looking, Terry! I found not a thing more either. Gee, wouldn't you have thought there would be more copper something with the same markings.

    Gee, with the interior such a mess, I don't plan on going to the trouble of "prettying" up the exterior. At this point won't sell it for scrap either. With it only weighing about 8 oz and the price of #2 copper only a little over $2.00 a pound, I'd be lucky to get a $1.00. I like seeing it displayed in my kitchen with a few other odd copper pieces.

    Again thank y'all, for the info and going to the trouble of researching and/or posting.

    I think? this was American made, but what about a timeframe? Roll edge copper pans, bowls, measures, etc... were probably made since the beginning of time to yesterday. Does anyone think this particular measure could date before 1900 like the mid or late Victorian era? I wouldn't be surprised if it dated as late as 1920. I suspect there isn't a good way to pin down an age. :(

    --- Susan
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2017
  7. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    I think the various markings extolling the pure or solid aspect started when someone came up with a way to put copper or brass on sheet steel around WWI.
     
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  8. Ladybranch

    Ladybranch Well-Known Member

    Good thought, thank you, Terry.

    I meant to add to my above reply, because you and I couldn't find anything more googling, I could add "very rare" to the description because there aren't any more out there. :hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:

    --- Susan
     
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  9. tie.dye.cat

    tie.dye.cat Well-Known Member

    But only if you use the accompanying "L@@K". LOL.
     
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  10. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    Susan, don't know if you found this link or not, but a fun education here!!
    https://books.google.com/books?id=5WRCAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA366&lpg=PA366&dq=Kast+Copper+and+Sheet+Iron+Co.+in+Buffalo,+NY&source=bl&ots=o5HbibGRMo&sig=_vTKcDEyeyETTQ_hKHpkIzBZo00&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiS8Jalv4PSAhVhyFQKHUfEC6UQ6AEIKjAF#v=onepage&q=Kast Copper and Sheet Iron Co. in Buffalo, NY&f=false

    There are just occasional mentions of the 'Kast Copper and Sheet Iron Co. in Buffalo, NY', which was my search phrase. Not sure if this page comes up exactly, but if it doesn't, here's a screen shot of where the fun begins!!! I couldn't make it stay on the page with a link.......IF you look at it you should see 3 blue hash marks on the right by the scroll bar.....the bottom blue hash line is close to page 427!

    Shop Problems.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2017
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  11. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

  12. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

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  13. Ladybranch

    Ladybranch Well-Known Member

    Aquitaine, thank you for that link. Yes, very interesting!

    Bev and Terry, thank you both for links to those measures, really the same measure I linked to in my original post. All of the links have the seller as tandcw508. 2 of the links (mine and Terry's) have the item number as 172463631657 (1/27/2017) and the 3rd link (Bev's) item number is 172428900025 (12/8/16). Believe the 12/8/2016 link was the original 1st auction and it didn't sell so the 1/27/2017 repeat auction. Boy, I was hoping they were for 3 different measures and someone would know something about them, but when all 3 used the typo "Kraft" in the description, my heart sunk. I am much appreciative for the hunting all of you have done!

    --- Susan
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2017
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