TAP

Cast copper alloy, Post Medieval 18th-19th century, barrel tap with a T-shaped tap key, with arms that are rectangular in section, which is slotted into the cylindrical socket or trunnion AD.1700-1850. The key turns within the trunnion to allow the liquid to flow through an opening to the spout. The key opened and closed a valve, and below the socket, the projecting housing in which the valve turned was adjustable by a slotted screw head. The barrel tap has a circular sectioned spigot which tapers towards the end for fitting into the barrel. The end of the spigot has five parallel longitudinal rows of five holes to restrict the flow of liquid. The entire spigot is covered with fine parallel longitudinal striations and ridges to help to hold it in the barrel. The spout is also circular in section and curves downwards to allow the flow of liquid. A flat-ended rectangular projection extends from a shouldered reinforcement around the outer curve of the spout, which would receive the blows of a mallet when the tap was driven into the barrel. The whole tap is 158.44 mm long; the spout is 41.92 mm long, 16.05 mm wide and 13.25 mm in diameter; the key and trunnion are 86.10 mm high and 21.79 mm in diameter and the key is 6.50 mm thick; the spigot is 95.60 mm long, 21.28 mm in diameter and 2.57 mm thick; and the whole tap weighs 334.1 g. Bailey (1993) illustrates a barrel tap with a similar T-shaped tap key and spout on page 62, No.18, which is dated from the 18th to the mid 19th century. Margeson (1993) illustrates a barrel tap with a similar spigot, trunnion and spout on page 137, Fig.102, No.932, which is dated from c.1750, and refers to the flat-topped T-shaped key as 18th century in date.