Royal Navy Rum Pump

Made from copper and brass with a hardwood handle. These were in use with the British Royal Navy from the 19th century onwards to draw the daily rum ration from the keg for distribution to all hands. This tradition was finally abandoned with the last tot being issued to the fleet being issued on 31st July, 1970 - a tradition started in 1667. These pumps were specified against Royal Navy stores reference number 53598 although normally they carried neither identification marks or dates to give us any clues to age or origins. This example is however the exception and above the spout is clearly stamped into the bowl '53598'. We have sold numerous examples over the last 15 years but this is the only one we have ever had that exhibits the stores reference number. In discussing this with a top Royal Navy rum related collector he has confirmed he has only ever seen one similar and the 5 digit number is known as a ' vocab number' and appeared from early fifties until the navy changed over to NATO coding in the early 1960's.

This pump is in generally good issued condition but it has the odd knock and dent in the bowl, commensurate with service use with the Royal Navy. The syphon mechanism is still in place and appears complete but like all our stock is for sale as a collectable/display item only as we cannot guarantee it's original function! The underside of the handle shows wear on the hardwood consistent with significant use where the handle has rubbed against the bowl of the pump.

A museum quality item and a piece of Royal Naval history and with no more ever to be manufactured an increasingly scarce item. So grab this one while you have the opportunity! The last one of these we saw sold on UK E Bay went for £275.00 but we can offers our scarcer variant at a rather keener price. Feel free to request, with no commitment, more detailed photographs that are available here on request. Measures 41" (104 cm).