In another thread Charles Heath mentioned seeing a big dipper, (Not the astrological type!) that held about two quarts and was wider then it was tall. Does anyone know where such a item could be viewed? Charles, are you out there?    

Bill, most anyone who has ever been to a PL or CR meeting in Elmira NY has viewed and/or handled this very big cup.

Charles,

Not being a member of the Potomac Legion or the Columbis Rifles, that doesn't help much. Is said Big Dipper in a museum in Elmira?

I'm thinking this might be a good item for one man in a mess to carry. With a wider base, this should cook faster than the usual tin can boiler or mucket. Oh yeah, and hopefully not burn the stuff in the bottom of the pot!  

That dipper would be handy for more than just a mess tool.  Since my horse is 16.2, I could use it as a mounting block!  

I don't think any photo's exist. The cup is at an extimate 3 or 4 times the size of a "norml" Federal issue cup. I'd guess it's two quart sized.

Think "Frankenrelic," and the Columbia Examiner and subsequent Civil War Historian article that went with it, and this cup would have fit right in. Bill, I'm sure you could email John for a photo and he'd oblige. Since he is also a tinkocker, in addition to his many other period trade skills, perhaps he could crank out a few repops. It's big enough to put the feed bag on for a mess of fellows, or bile up a nice batch of coffee.

As for me, I found a thrown out tin coffee pot lid that matches my issue dipper as if custom made. This is a really neat find, and it kept a whole bunch of parched corn together in the haversack at OP3. Mmmmm, corn.

Bill,

I saw two more "Monster Cups" this past Sunday at the Nashville CW Show, although neither one was an ID'd relic. One did have a modern repair at the bottom of the handle where it had pulled away from the cup. Interestingly enough, I also saw another cup sized about halfway between the Monster Cup and the issue cup so many of us carry.