12" x 11.75" Dia. (base).

A stoneware five-gallon merchant crock from Brantford (late Welding or early BSMCL era) with a rare Berlin (Kitchener, Ontario) mark. Valentine F. Weber (1857-1942) worked at a grocery store on Frederick Street in Berlin before purchasing it in 1890 and operating it continuously until late 1906 when he turned over ownership to his eldest son Richard. Valentine then switched careers to the cartage business. This crock recently surfaced in a Kitchener-area home and was still being used for curing pickles. 1890s. Stamped, "V.F. Weber & Co / Grocers / Berlin / 5".

Very good condition. Light to moderate surface stains from past use. A shallow 1.5" in-manufacture chip along the rim edge at the back. Two very tight/faint X-shaped hairline cracks at the right side toward the back. Remnants of red paint on the underside.