Object number
57/382
Description
A flail consists of a handle, a 'swingel' (the swinging part which hits the grain) and a 'swivel' joint to join the two together.
Flails were commonly used to thresh corn and other crops to separate the grain from the husks. They were used before the development of threshing machines. Threshing by flail provided winter work for labourers and was done on a threshing floor in a barn. A flail usually consists of a handle, a 'swingel' (the swinging part of the flail which hits the grain) and a 'swivel' joint to join the two together. Nothing is known about where or when this flail was made or used.
Physical description
1 flail; wood, metal and leather; fair condition
Archival history
MERL ‘Associated information’ form – 'Flail // In poor condition, but method of joining swingel interesting.'
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5632.tif - High resolution image
