67/35

Beating, ’shop’ or ‘hand' iron used by basketmakers for tapping and beating the weave of a basket to close it up. C. 1840's.
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 short iron bar with a small knob at one end. One edge of the bar is double the width of the other (for use on coarser work), and one end is double the width of the other. It was probably made by a blacksmith, and was used by the donor, his father and grandfather - a family of basketmakers from London. It is believed to date from the 1840s.

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: IRON (beating) // Acc. No.: 67/35 // Group: CRAFTS. WOOD BASKETS // Neg. no.: 60/8510 // Place of origin: London. // Period in use: 1800–1900 // DESCRIPTION // Materials: metal/Steel // Shape and construction: A heavy wedge of metal with a small knob at the thin end, one edge much thicker than the other, damaged much by use. Probably made by a blacksmith. // Dimensions: L. [length] 8 3/4” W.T. [width of top] 1 3/4” Thickness 3/4” // Use: For beating or rapping down the weave of a basket to get a close fabric. // Dialect names: Shop iron, hand iron // Distribution: // Additional notes: {later type has a ring instead of a knob, doubling use as a Commander. D.W. [Dorothy Wright]}'

1840 - 1967

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