67/38

A commander is tool used by basketmakers for straightening or bending willow and cane too thick to be bent by hand. This commander consists of an iron bar with one end making a ring and the other end making an ‘F’ shape. Commanders are also known as ‘dogs’. This one was used by the donor, his father and possibly his grandfather - a family of basketmakers from London – on good quality picnic hampers.

1 commander: steel rod

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: COMMANDER // Acc. No.: 67/38 // Group: CRAFTS. WOOD. BASKETS // Neg. no.: 60/8522 // Place of origin: London. // Period in use: // DESCRIPTION // Materials: metal/Steel. // User: Wm. [William] Brown // Shape and construction: Steel rod forming a ring at one end & a short F with arms of equal length at the other. // Dimensions: L. [length] 12 1/4” Thickness: 1/2” // Use: For bending & straightening heavy rods. // Dialect names: Dog // Distribution: // Additional notes: Other: Commanders. 66/47/1–2'

1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Nineteenth century

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