Object number
62/84
Collection
Description
This palm iron, also called a 'saddler's iron' or 'hand iron', was used as a kind of thimble to push a curved needle into leather, and to pull it through. It was used by a saddler and cobbler in Yattendon, Berkshire, who had worked there from 1901 until the early 1960s. For the pushing process, the pear shaped section of the tool held in the hollow of the hand is used. After it has been pushed well into the leather the saddler places the tip of the needle into the needle hole on the long projection at the front of the tool and pulls the needle and thread through the leather.
Physical description
1 palm iron: metal
Archival history
Letter, Miss F. Palmer to Mr Higgs, 2nd May 1962 - 'Our village Saddler + cobbler Mr Burnham has just died. He had had the shop here since 1901 and his father was also a saddler in Reading...'
Production date
1901 - 1962
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4782.tif - High resolution image
