67/32

J. Moss (Manufacturer)

A shave is used to shave and reduce the thickness of a willow skein after it has been split with the cleave to prepare it for weaving. This upright shave consists of an oblong bock of wood with a steel plate and two blades, with a screw for adjustment. It was used for fine skeins. This one was used by the donor, his father and grandfather - a family of basketmakers from London - and is believed to date from the 1880s.

This is a part of a small collection of basketmaking tools (67/32-67/40) used by the donor (William Brown), his father (James 'Joe' Brown, who worked for G. W. Scott and Sons, a basketmaking firm in London) and grandfather. Mr William Brown gives his address as the London Association for the Blind, which had a factory in Peckham and which employed blind men in the manufacture of baskets, knitting needles and injection moulded plastics., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: UPRIGHT // Acc. No.: 67/32 // Group: CRAFTS. WOOD BASKETS // Neg. no.: 60/8603 // Place made: Lancs [Lancashire] – Warrington // Place used: Peckham. London. // Period in use: 1900–1950 // DESCRIPTION // Materials: metal/steel, wood/box . Steel blades. Box or pear wood base. Screw for adjustment at end. // User: Wm. [William] Brown // Maker: J. Moss // Shape and construction: A block of wood to which is screwed a steel plate. 2 blades, sprung together, upright are set in this & their distance apart is adjusted by a screw at one end. // Dimensions: L. [length] 4 1/4” W. [width] 1 1/2” d. [depth] 1 1/4” // Use: For reducing & making a willow skein the same width down the whole of its length, the third stage (& final) in the making of a skein (see Chave & Shave) // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes: see also 66/278 & 52/384'

Warrington [Warrington [unitary authority]]

1880 - 1967

London Association for the Blind ()
Brown, James 'Joe' ()
G. W. Scott and Sons ()
Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)