Question:
I have a crock, with the ‘Union’ Oval beneath a big 10 (for 10 gals I presume) and two leaves beneath. My father used it to make beer and root beer in the early 50s and my guess is that he bought it after the war. My question is whether it is safe to use, e.g. does it contain lead, etc. I’d like to use it but my wife is worried that back then they didn’t pay attention to such issues.

Answer: Yes, your father’s 10 gallon crock is safe to use. There are no leads or any other toxic chemicals in the glaze. Many of these old Red Wing crocks are purchased today just for canning and picking. Just make sure your crock is cleaned with a dish washing detergent and hot water and you are good to go. Al Kohlman