hdownesco

Perhaps: "Finings are substances that are usually added at or near the completion of the processing of brewing wine, beer and various nonalcoholic juice beverages. Their purpose is for removal of organic compounds; to either improve clarity or adjust flavor/aroma." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finings Also, the date of the photograph may be few years later than on the barrel - Port wine often undergoes barrel-aging from 10 or less to 40 years...

Alek Nowak Thank you very much for the Finings info. Had considered that it might be older because of the date on the barrels (alcohol maturing, etc.), but we have a very finite set of photos of this establishment, and from how Poole Photographers usually operated (plus the clothing), I'd feel fairly confident this one was taken around the same time as the other two...

I like this amazing shot

"By 1924, Johnson & Johnson introduced the first machine that produced sterilized Band-Aids." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band-Aid

blackpoolbeach Thanks, interesting! If we come across any more Druggist/Chemist shop windows, will keep an eye out for sticky plasters on display - Band-Aid or otherwise.

If they're all full of Whiskey, this must be what Heaven looks like!?

I like a large "Tea" every evening {;~})

philip ward Mike And so, a new euphemism is born - "Just popping upstairs to blend some tea!"

I will have the whiskey, you can have the tea.

maps.google.com/maps?q=10+Thomas+Street,+Waterford,+Irela... Still there!

Great shot. Looking at the implement the man on the left was operating I suspect that it helped them to form up the cask? Any experts out there to tell us how it was done?

Swordscookie Would indeed welcome input from any coopers out there! It looks as if the foot pedal thingy (technical term) helped to increase pressure on the hoops??

Looks more like a fire, the foot pedal would pump air into it to increase the heat. The hoops are heated before they are put around the cask.

I think you're right Michiel! I was looking at the shape but when you view it at original size you can see it a lot better and it seems to be a portable furnace - for heating the rivets perhaps? I like the specialised anvil the other cooper is working on, specially adapted for his needs and no need for bending the back unnecessarily!

Michiel2005 Swordscookie Ah, that makes sense - a sort of brazier type affair...