Guernsey Jugs

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	(For simplicity the word 'jugs' is here used to cover 'cans' and 'creamers'. The jugs were dual purpose to be used as milk cans for the collection of the milk. Being so attractive, they are suitable for use at table as jugs or creamers. Channel Island 'milk' is so rich in 'cream' that those words can justifiably be confused as well.)
	A selection of jugs with four-piece bodies and one or two-double sized tokens soldered to the topside where one of the seams would have been in an eight-sector body.

	Token, as described in the previous page, showing the Guernsey shield with three lions surmounted by foliage.

	Guernsey cream jug of two pint size with four-piece body and fillet strengthening the handle. This was a presentation piece and is inscribed so can be positively dated to 1970 by which time more jugs were being bought by tourists than farmers. The maker's mark is 'W & C Penny Makers, Guernsey. Height 190mm (7 1/2"), weight 307g (11oz). Inscription 'Presented to FS Payne by his friends The S E B (Southern Electricity Board) Engineers Guernsey, May 1970'. This size of jug typically takes five hours to make by the traditional method. On a flat sheet of copper the required shapes are marked out using templates. The number of pieces needed varies with the type of can. Tinman's snips are then used to cut out the pieces and each one is then placed on a block of wood that has been carved with enough shapes for each item. A steel-faced hammer with polished surface is then used with great skill to block out the shapes on the former. The edges are then roll-swaged to form grooves where needed for the joints. The mating seam is formed using a hatchet stake and a wooden mallet. The components are now assembled and soldered, finish polished and proudly marked with the maker's name before sale.	.

	Walter Penny started learning his trade under W R James at 11, Bordage, Guernsey. His brother, Charles started in 1917 and in time they took over the business but in the name of James Penny, an uncle. They changed the registration to their joint names on his death in 1942 but were not able to be making many jugs at that time due to the occupation. In 1946 they re-opened in No 52, Bordage and in 1970 moved to No 36 Bordage.

	The spherical body of this jug marketed by Bachman is of eight sectors lap-seamed and soldered together and to the base and collar rim.

	A dummy rib pressed in to represent a missing seam! This is probably one of the cans made by quantity production methods in a factory in or near Birmingham. The extra expenditure on press tooling is repaid by quicker and cheaper production costs when compared with the traditional method of lap-seaming..

	Of the range of jugs shown above only three have spouts. The one on the right of this picture is carefully rounded. The lid, shown lifted, has an arch cut out to allow the cream to be poured. The jug is an unidentified maker's electroplated nickel silver (EPNS) one pint version. On the left is shown an angular spout on a Loveridge jug. The lid is not recessed and must be lifted to allow a full stream of cream.

	This top-quality handle on a six-pint Agnew jug has got a thumb grip as well as a comfortable fully webbed reinforcement underneath.

	Very neat basketwork on the handle of a jug by Ouenault of Jersey.

	This is a rarely seen jug, the brass body being made of two spun hemispheres with a hammered finish. Another rarity in this jug is that the handles for lid and jug have copper rivets to hold them in place. The underside is marked with a '1' for a one pint capacity and a maker's quality mark missing the first few letters..... anti Villedieu; this was guaranteed made in Villedieu, Normandy.

	These crinkle marks on a can body show that the copper has been pressed or drawn to shape in a die rather than hand hammered by the traditional method.

	How do you remove dents from these thin jugs with limited access? Ask a good coppersmith! You will be told about making wooden curved stakes to support the inside while the outside is gently hammered with a soft maul and then planished to a mirror finish. Sounds easy but it does need some experience!	Photo to follow.

	Guernsey Cans (Coppersmiths)	http://www.guernseycans.co.uk/
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