A standard or standard hundred was a measure of timber used in trade. [1] [2]
The measure varied in number, size and composition from country to country so the term is usually preceded by the region or port of origin. [2] The countries of the Baltic region were major producers and exporters of timber, and used their local measure for trade with other countries such as Britain. The hundred in the term standard hundred was usually a long hundred , meaning 120 pieces, but the word hundred was often dropped, leaving simply standard to mean "the local standard number of pieces, each in the local standard dimensions". The timber would be typically called battens (7 inches wide), deals (above 7, usually 9 inches wide) and planks (11 inches wide); boards were under 2 inches thick. [3] [4]
The standard hundred of the Russian capital of Saint Petersburg was 120 boards which were 12 feet long, 11⁄2 inches thick and 11 inches wide – a volume of 165 cubic feet. [5] The city changed its name to Petrograd when the First World War started in 1914 and so the unit was then known as the Petrograd Standard or PSH (Petrograd Standard Hundred). [6] This unit also used the spelling Petersburgh. [7]
The Christiania standard was 5⁄8 of the Petersburg standard, making it 103.125 cubic feet. [3]
The Swedish standard hundred was 121 boards of 14 feet long, 3 inches thick and 9 inches wide, making 317.625 cubic feet. [5]
The Norwegian standard hundred was 120 boards of 12 feet long, 3 inches thick and 9 inches wide, making 270 cubic feet. [5]
The British standard hundred for battens was 120 battens of 12 feet long, 21⁄2 inches thick and 7 inches wide, making 175 cubic feet. [5]
The Quebec standard hundred was 100 boards of 12 feet long, 21⁄2 inches thick and 11 inches wide, making 275 cubic feet. [8]
The American standard hundred was 120 deals of 12 feet long, 2 inches thick and 12 inches wide, making 240 cubic feet. [9]
The deals for decking sold in the ports of Danzig and Memel were planks of 40 feet long, 3 inches thick and 1 foot wide. [5] A standard hundred of 120 would be 1200 cubic feet.
Timber was an important import for Britain and the supply was affected by the Napoleonic Wars. North America replaced Scandinavia as a source and the annual volume of trade in standards during this period changed as follows (standards per year): [10]
Years | Baltic | North America |
---|---|---|
1788–92 | 73,132 | 866 |
1803–07 | 77,392 | 5,511 |
1829–33 | 40,927 | 134,227 |
Longships were a type of specialised Scandinavian warships that have a long history in Scandinavia, with their existence being archaeologically proven and documented from at least the fourth century BC. Originally invented and used by the Norsemen for commerce, exploration, and warfare during the Viking Age, many of the longship's characteristics were adopted by other cultures, like Anglo-Saxons, and continued to influence shipbuilding for centuries.
Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes, including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing. Lumber has many uses beyond home building. Lumber is referred to as timber in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, while in other parts of the world the term timber refers specifically to unprocessed wood fiber, such as cut logs or standing trees that have yet to be cut.
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This glossary of woodworking lists a number of specialized terms and concepts used in woodworking, carpentry, and related disciplines.
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13. b. A definite quantity of timber, differing in different countries. (Cf. standard deal, B.1c.)
Standard Hundred. An established measure for timber consisting of 120 pieces (the Long Hundred or 10 dozen), except the Quebec Standard, which contains 100, of a certain size. The Petrograd or St. Petersburg Standard is the one most generally used in this country. In the early days of timber importing, each of the principal ports had its own standard, but most of these have fallen into disuse, as have the London and Dublin Standards.