Object number
2010/130
Collection
Exhibition
Description
The use of this scoop is unknown, although it may possibly have been used to scoop seeds into sacks. John Cox collection.
This use of this scoop is unknown, although it may possibly have been used to scoop seeds into sacks. It is made of metal, painted red, and has a wooden shaft branded with the letter ?R?. It is part of a large collection of objects relating to Suttons Seeds Ltd., as well as other rural artefacts, compiled by John Cox, who worked at Suttons from 1931 to 1976, starting as an office boy and finishing as Company Secretary.
Label Text
Ron [Butler] volunteered for 23 years at the Museum and for much of this time worked with the late Gerry Westall. Gerry had also worked at Sutton’s Seeds. A decade ago, they helped to sort a collection that arrived following the death of another former Sutton’s colleague, John Cox. // John left a miscellany of items that proved hard to describe. Here’s one that Ron helped to identify—a greenhouse fumigator—and another that stumped both Gerry and him. It is thought to be a seed scoop but if you know better do let us know! // MERL 2010/96/1-7, 2010/130.
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – ‘Associated information: This item was part of a large collection of Suttons Seeds related objects and other rural artefacts collected by the late John Cox. Mr Cox was company secretary at Suttons 1968–1976. He started at Suttons in 1931. The collections he amassed were sorted by his daughters, Bridget and Katherine, following his death. The Museum agreed to purchase a number of objects, which were then identified and assessed with the help of Gerry Westall and Ron Butler (MERL volunteers and former colleagues of Mr Cox).’, MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – ‘Description: Unidentified scoop with red metal business end and wooden shaft/handle. Branded on handle with the letter ‘R’, which has been infilled with red paint. Old paper label still partially visible and adhered to shaft. Possibly used to scoop seeds into sacks. However, item not recognized when examined by Gerry Westall and Ron Butler so may not be Suttons-related.’
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