67/28

Secateurs are used by basketmakers for cutting thick cane, although the cross-blade type is never used. This pair was used at Thomas Abbey & Sons, a basketmaking firm in Selby, North Yorkshire. They are gardening secateurs, with curved blades with straight backs, and are sprung.

The family basketmaking business of Thomas Abbey & Sons was established in 1864. Mrs Snowden’s brother (Guy Abbey), father (A. E. Abbey) and grandfather were all basketmakers in the business. Her father spent some years teaching basketmaking at the Amar Singh Technical Institute in Srinagar, Kashmir, India, and was also on the Rural Industries Bureau. When Guy Abbey died there was no one to pass the firm on to, and Mrs Snowden donated several tools [67/15–67/31] which had been in use in the family for about one hundred years., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: SECATEURS // Acc. No.: 67/28 // Group: CRAFTS. WOOD BASKETS // Neg. no.: 60/8564 // Place of origin: Yorks [Yorkshire] (W. R. [West Riding]) Selby // Period in use: Within past 10 years. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: metal/Steel // User: Thos. [Thomas] Abbey & Sons // Shape and construction: Gardening-type with curved blades & straight backs. Sprung. // Dimensions: L. [length] 7 1/2” // Use: For cutting cane in a basketmakers’ workshop. // Dialect names: Spring shears. // Distribution: // Additional notes:'

1967

Abbey, Guy ()
Abbey, A. E. ()
Rural Industries Bureau ()
Amar Singh Technical Institute ()
Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)