63/554

A beating iron, also known as a ’shop iron’ or ‘hand iron’, is a tool used by basketmakers for tapping and beating the weave of a basket to close it up, and also for cramming down the last stakes of a border. This beating iron consists of a narrow, heavy piece of steel, thicker at one edge than the other, which tapers to a small blob. Other names for the beating iron include ‘beater’, ‘driving iron’ and ‘maul’. lt was collected by the donor's father, who was interested in rural crafts. The donor's father was one of the Bushell Brothers, Charlie and Joseph, who ran a canal boat building and repair business at Gannel in New Mill, Tring, on the Wendover Arm Canal, until their retirement in 1952. They also did general coach-building.

MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: IRON (beating) // Acc. No.: 63/554 // Group: CRAFT. WOOD BASKETS // Neg. no.: 60/5366 // Place of origin: Hertfordshire. // Period in use: // DESCRIPTION // Materials: metal/Steel // Shape and construction: Narrow & heavy piece of steel, thicker at one edge than the other. It tapers to a small blob. // Dimensions: Length 11”. At wide end 2” // Use: For tapping & beating the work to close the weave as in close-randing. May be used for hammering & for cramming down the last stakes of a border. // Dialect names: Beater. Driving Iron. Maul. // Distribution: // Additional notes: See the Countryman at Work. Thos. Hennell. Lon. 1947 [Thomas Hennell, ‘The Countryman at Work’. London, Architectural Press, 1947] p.20 // Probably made by a local smith. 19th C. or earlier because present day irons have a ring at the end which is used for straightening rods.', MERL Miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 1 March 2013 – The Bushell Brothers, Charlie and Joseph, ran a canal boat building and repair business at Gannel in New Mill, Tring, on the Wendover Arm Canal. The business was founded by their father, Joseph Bushell Senior, in 1875. They took over its running in 1912, and the business closed in 1952 when they retired. This Collection comprises tools and other objects used at Bushell Brothers, as well as other various old tools that one of the Bushell brothers, who was always interested in rural crafts, collected druing his retirement. The majority of the Collection was donated by the daugther of one of the Bushell brothers, while other items were donated by a former employee.

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)
Bushell, Joseph (Senior)
Bushell, Joseph
Bushell, Charlie