Bucket ID

[RC Maple]

I have some buckets that say Leader and some that say King and others. Many of them don't say anything. Do these no-name buckets have any telling marks or maybe the concentric circles in the bucket bottom? I'm sure I have more buckets that say nothing than ones with a name. Anyone know some ways to ID them?

[Bucket Head]

I have some no-name buckets too. I also have many that are not the 'standard' 16qt. capacity. I don't know how you would ID them, considering how many maple supply's have offered buckets over the years. There were probably only a handfull of bucket manufacturers out there but they made them for everybody. Mondays they stamped Leader in them, Tuesdays was King, Wednesday was for Wheeling and so on. Just hang one of each on the sugarhouse wall and add to the collection as you come across unique buckets at antique shows, auctions, garage sales, etc. They'll be great conversation pieces!

Steve

[heus]

The Wheeling buckets often have an oval remnant of a sticker label on the side. I was told they are the best of the old buckets and maybe have the least chance of having lead?????

[Bucket Head]

Many of mine are Wheeling buckets and they have those "remnants", or the galvanizing is a slightly different color where the sticker was. I don't know about the lead thing. I doubt their lead free. Lead free solder probably was'nt around when these buckets were manufactured.

Steve

[Ed R]

We also have a mixed bag of 16 quart buckets, wheeling,king and leader. There are 100 or so that are stamped sbmco I always assumed these were Small Brothers buckets?? I also bought some buckets from Jason (Heus) that are labeled ixl. Is that a makers mark or a size determination (1xl). They are also alot darker gray. As far as unlabled buckets, the ones that we have appear to have the same patena as wheeling buckets just without the worn off label so I assume the majority are wheeling buckets.

[RC Maple]

Some of the buckets I picked up at the auction in September do have sticker remnants on them. Most of them looked pretty good - a few will need some attention. Thanks for the information though!