History of The Sikes Hydrometer

In the 1740's, the Customs and Excise and the London brewers/distillers began to use Clarke's hydrometer.

In 1802 the Board of Excise held a competition to find a better instrument than Clarke's hydrometer for revenue purposes and nineteen instruments were submitted for consideration. The winning design was that of Bartholomew Sikes, a peripatetic London employee of the excise commissioners. Sikes's hydrometer was enshrined in legislation in 1816 with the Sikes Hydrometer Act and remained the legal standard until 1907 (although they remained in common use until 1980).
.
The Sikes Hydrometer Act:
(Click on any small image to see a large, full detail image).

Page 1
1
Page 2
2
Page 3
3
Page 4
4
Page 5
5
Page 6
6
Page 7
7
Page 8
8
(Scanned from an original Dring & Fage Sikes User Manual, printed in 1855.)

The Sikes hydrometer was used to determine the strength of spirits for the distiller, victualler and tax collector alike, and worts both before and after fermentation for the brewer, providing an accurate method of determining Alcohol proof, strength, percentages and duties thereof.

It was also required that brewers notify the tax exciseman of times when the first wort would be ready for measure. The exciseman would then measure the gravity of the wort and impose the tax due. Quoting from John Tuck (a brewer in the early 19th century) -

"and if the exciseman be a good fellow, be sure to tell him the time the first wort will be out, and get him a handsome lunch and a cup of ale".


Add for Sikes, 1822
 		 Books of the 18th and 19th century often featured advertisements in the back, which helped to finance publication. One such book was "The Private Brewer's Guide to the art of Brewing Ale and Porter", by John Tuck, 1822. This book features 1 advertisement in the back, from Joseph Long of 20 Little Tower Street, for the Sikes Hydrometer.

It is curious to note that Tuck was actually considered advanced in his day, for he recorded all of his recipes with specific gravity measure, which were determined through the use of the hydrometer.

Click on the image for a detailed scan of the original, or click HERE for a converted HTML document.

Back to Index