Balance Scale,
Waterloo, Ontario; circa 1900; wood, iron; 82.4.2.

To monitor the amount of spirits in bond, barrels were weighed, in the presence of the excise officer, upon warehouse entry and withdrawal.  Due to the process of evaporation, the barrels weighed less when they left the warehouses than they did when they were first stored.  The amount lost to evaporation was referred to as the "angel's share".

Breather,
Gimli, Manitoba; circa 1985; steel; 91.6.1.

A breather was inserted into the bung hole to allow air into a barrel.  This increased the speed at which the whisky was emptied from the barrel.

Bung Flogger,
Canada; circa 1960-1975; wood; 82.4.7.

The bung flogger was used by the warehouse worker to remove a bung, or stopper, from the barrel.  Tapping the barrel on either side of the bung with the bung flogger would cause the bung to pop out of the hole.  The bung flogger was also used to drive the bung back into the barrel.

Wantage Rod,
Waterloo, Ontario; circa 1950; wood, alloy, brass; 90.2.1.

These rods were used to measure the unfilled space, or wantage, in a barrel.  The numerical graduations represent imperial gallons.

Sample Bottles,
Waterloo, Ontario; circa 1950, 1990; glass, metal, plastic; 92.15.20, 96.3.3, 96.3.6, 96.3.7.

One of the jobs of the warehouse worker was to take samples from the maturing whiskies to be sent for testing in the quality control laboratory.  The bottle on the left with the graduated markings on it was the "official" sample bottle.  The other bottles were also used to take samples from barrels, albeit, illegal ones.

The Seagram Company had a strict policy against drinking on the job, and workers were required to sign a form stating that they would not partake in such activity.  If caught drinking while at work, an employee could be fired immediately.

Thief,
Waterloo, Ontario; circa 1930; copper, brass, steel; 82.25.111.

A thief was used by the warehouse worker to take samples from a barrel which were then sent to the laboratory.  The thief was placed inside the barrel through the bung hole, a thumb, or finger, was placed over the hole in the top of the thief, creating an air lock, and the sample was removed.

Mel McCleneghan (left) Draws a Sample for Master Blender Art Dawe (right),
circa 1973; 96.X1.19.

Joe Salm in the Dumping Room,
circa 1970; 96.X1.21.

Warehouse Crew,
circa 1980; 96.X1.22.

Sign,
Waterloo, Ontario; circa 1980; plastic; 92.15.27.

Spirits were bonded by the government until duty was paid by the distillery. This sign was intended to be used on the exterior of bonded barrel warehouse #7. With the introduction of computers in the 1980s, each warehouse owned by the Seagram Company in Canada was assigned a new unique number according to the company's classification system. Employees, however, continued to refer to the warehouses according to the old numbering system.