67/29

This pair of pliers was used at Thomas Abbey & Sons, a basketmaking firm in Selby, North Yorkshire, for holding and squeezing basketmaking materials, especially cane. They are made of steel, with long curved handles. The tips, which only meet at the ends, are long and flat and slightly serrated on the inside.

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: PLIERS. // Acc. No.: 67/29 // Group: CRAFTS. WOOD BASKETS // Neg. no.: 60/8568 // Place of origin: Selby. W. R. Yorks. [West Riding Yorkshire]// Period in use: 20th century // DESCRIPTION // Materials: metal/Steel // User: Thos. [Thomas] Abbey & Sons // Shape and construction: Curved handles. Long flat ends slightly serrated at the inner ends. These only meet at the ends. // Dimensions: L. [length] 7” L. [length] of ends 2” // Use: For holding & squeezing, particularly cane. Probably made to order of a basketmaker. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes:'

1967

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