Anyone seen one of these pressure barrels?

[Virgilartois]

Found this for sale cheapish... It's an old Boots pressure barrel. I was wondering if the weird bit at the top is for CO2 bulbs... anyone ever seen/used one of these and know if they'll hold enough naturally-produced CO2 to allow carbonation to occur?

 

[battwave]

The top section is for CO2 bulbs. My father had one, and the round bit at the back is a pressure regulator, so you don't have to discharge the whole bulb into the barrel, it just keeps adding pressure as you draw-off beer.

I've never seen the beer tap bit it's attached to. I think my dad's was screwed straight into the top of a rotokeg. I am talking late 80s though!

 

[Virgilartois]

Awesome, thanks very much for the input! This might do me for pale ales then!

 

[mashman]

I used to have one of these back in the 80s. The regulator dome can be removed for cleaning and the piston O ring is lubricated with Vaseline.

Unfortunately I can't remember how efficient it was, ie how many gas bulbs it swallowed.

I used to prime my barrel with sugar for secondary ferment then screw a bulb in when that gas had depleted.

Worth using especially if it is free, gratis or for f*$k all

 

[battwave]

Worth using especially if it is free, gratis or for f*$k all

Definitely a certain satisfaction in making use of something that came free and gratis!

 

[craigite]

I still use my boots barrel. I swapped out the co2 bulb at the top and fitted a co2 bottle adopted. I get most of the way through a brew under the natural co2 from the brew before I need to give a squirt from my little bottle.