Quote Originally Posted by JB White View Post
Barry, this is what I've come to know. It might be different for others from different places but the gist of it is there.

Up through the earlier years of the 20th century goods were shipped in large barrels to the local stores. The small general goods stores were typically the place in town where people might gather and chat. From what I've been told. National Biscuit Company aka Nabisco used to advertise their name rather largely on the sides of their barrels. Those large barrels sat out in the stores and made good expedient table tops for coffee cups and checkerboards etc. Pull up a couple of rickety chairs, crates, or smaller barrel to sit on and hang out for a while.
Once boxed goods became the norm some places kept an old barrel around for just that purpose. When I was younger the barrels were gone in my area. Stacked milk crates or a wooden newspaper rack served the same purpose but the term remained the same.
Thanks JB. I am now a wiser man. Funny thing is that I worked for Nabisco (NZ) for 20 years.