Deal (unit)
Deal is an obsolete unit of measurement formerly used in the UK and US to measure what is today described as "Dimension Lumber". [1] From the late 18th to the early 20th centuries, the term "deal board" referred to rough sawn Spruce or Pine planks two to three inches thick (sometimes thicker), up to 12" wide and 12 to 14 feet long. These were often re-sawn into smaller dimensions by the end-user for use in Wood Framing, Cooperage and Furniture making. They were traded as a maritime commodity.[2][3]
Definition
[edit] | This article or section appears to contradict itself. (November 2025) |
Deal (UK) is equal to 7 in × 72 in × 2+1⁄2 in (178 mm × 1,829 mm × 64 mm).[4][1]
Deal (US) is equal to 144 in × 11 in × 1+1⁄2 in (3,658 mm × 279 mm × 38 mm).[1]
Whole deal is equal to 144 in × 11 in × 5⁄8 in (3,658 mm × 279 mm × 16 mm).[1]
Split deal is equal to 144 in × 8 in × 16 in (3,660 mm × 200 mm × 410 mm).[1]
Note: Cardarelli seems to be inaccurate. A whole deal should be 1+1⁄4 in (32 mm) thick,[5] a split or slit deal should be 5⁄8 in (16 mm) thick,[6][7] and a deal not specified as either whole, slit, or split should be twice as thick as the whole deal.[8][9]
Conversion
[edit]1 Deal (UK) ≡ 105/144 (= 0.72916667) cubic feet ≡ 8.75 (or 35/4) board feet ≡ 0.02064770064 m3
1 Deal (US) ≡ 1.375 cubic feet ≡ 16.5 (or 33/2) board feet ≡ 0.0389356640640 m3
1 Whole deal ≡ 55/96 (= 0.572916667) cubic foot ≡ 6.875 (or 55/8) board feet ≡ 0.01622319336 m3
1 Split deal ≡ 128 cubic feet ≡ 1536 board feet ≡ 3.624556363776 m3
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 52. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
- ^ Charles Pope (1819). "CCXLIII". Practical abridgement of the laws of customs and excise (5th ed.).
- ^ John Ramsey McCulloch (1840). "Docks on the Thames (London)". A Dictionary Practical, Theoretical and Historical of Commerce and Commercial Navigation. Vol. 1. Thomas Wardle. p. 590.
- ^ Simmonds, P. L. (Peter Lund) (1892). "Batten". The commercial dictionary of trade products : manufacturing and technical terms, moneys, weights, and measures of all countries. Wellcome Library. London ; New York : George Routledge and Sons. p. 30.
- ^ "Definition of WHOLE DEAL". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ "Definition of SLIT DEAL". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ Simmonds, P. L. (Peter Lund) (1892). "Deal". The commercial dictionary of trade products : manufacturing and technical terms, moneys, weights, and measures of all countries. Wellcome Library. London ; New York : George Routledge and Sons. p. 121.
- ^ "Deals (The Diary of Samuel Pepys)". The Diary of Samuel Pepys. 2005-06-24. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ "Monday 23 June 1662". The Diary of Samuel Pepys. 2005-06-23. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
