An account for stores charges relating to the 'Pamir' at Penarth Dock during the period 28th July 1950 until the 2nd March 1951. The bonded stores at East Dock, Cardiff held three packages weighing a total of 1 hundredweight, 1 quarter and 7 pounds (approx. 66.8 Kg) for 31 weeks at a rate of 9d making a total of 1 shilling and 6 pence (7.5p).

How did they calculate this?

1 hundredweight is 112 lbs and 1 quarter is 28 lbs so the total weight is 112+28+7=147 lbs. One Imperial Ton is equivalent to 2,240 lbs. So the calulation is:

(147/2,240) Tons * 31 weeks * 9d per Ton per week = 18.3 pence. There are 12 pence in a shilling so the sum total rounded down is 1s-6d. Easy - the Victorians built an entire Empire using non-Metric units and did sums like this without the use of electronic calculators!

The account is addressed to agents Messrs T. T. Pascoe Limited of Cardiff and was paid on 23rd April 1951. Another interesting historical document kindly provided by the archive staff of the Ålands sjöfartsmuseum of Finland. [001] [343]