From: Gary Tefft / locustent@aol.com
Location: Menomonee Falls,WI
Date: 01 Jan 1999
Time: 17:42:54
Self Draining jars were made sizes from 5-gallons through 60-gallons. They were used in laboratory or industrial processes to accumulate or dispense liquids, rather than in a household setting were long term storage was the usual need. The bottoms are shaped like a shallow funnel to facilitate draining, rather than being flat like an ordinary stoneware jar. Some type of metal stand or framework was necessary to support them, except for a particular style, available only in the 5 & 10-gallon sizes, which had a "rim" around the bottom so that the funnel was recessed. These were shaped like a watercooler, rather than having straight sides.
-Gary-