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Heading shave or swift used by coopers to smooth the head of the cask. Used at H. & G. Simonds Ltd., Bridge Street Brewery, Reading.
The heading shave, also known as a 'heading swift, is a tool used by coopers to smooth the head of the cask. This process is done while the cask head rests on the cooper's block. It shave was used in the cooper's shop at H. & G. Simonds Ltd., known as the Bridge Street Brewery, in Reading.

1 shave: wood and iron; heavy

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This tool which measures 13.75 inches wide and 4.5 inches deep, is known as a Heading Swift. This is a heavy shave, fitted with a 2.5 inches cutting iron, and is used to smooth the cask head while resting on the cooper’s block.', MERL 'Catalogue index' card – [Coopering – General Card, 55/37–55/56 and 55/66–55/68] – 'This set of Cooper's tools came to the Museum from the Cooper's Department, Messrs H & G Simonds The Brewery, Reading. Although the majority of the tools are modern, indeed some of them were never used, the tools are nevertheless the same as have been used for centuries by both urban and rural coopers.'

Wood, Metal, iron