71/139

James Howarth (Manufacturer)

A metal brace with a wooden knob and a thumb screw to fix the bit in place, used for boring holes. It is inscribed 'Jas Howarth Sheffield // 'Wrot' 14 in'. It is part of the Reeves Collection which was donated by R. & J. Reeves and Son Ltd., agricultural machinery manufacturers of Bratton Iron Works, Wiltshire.

1 brace: metal and wood; good condition

MERL Miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 10 March 2014 – The Reeves Collection was donated by R. & J. Reeves and Son Ltd. of Bratton Iron Works near Westbury, Wiltshire. The firm, which manufactured agricultural machinery, was well-established by 1849, and went into final receivership in 1970, when the Collection was donated to MERL. Bratton Iron Works was demolished in 1973. A detailed list of all of the objects in the Collection can be found in the accession file for 70/235. Records relating to the firm can be found in the MERL Archives, reference TR REE., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: BRACE // Accession number: 71/139 // … // Recorder: JMB // Date: New sheet 30.11.87 // Description: A metal brace with a wooden knob to the handle and a thumb screw to fix the bit in place. // Inscription: JAS HOWARTH SHEFFIELD // ‘WROT’ 14 IN // Dimensions: Length: 42.0 cm // Width: 20.0 cm’, Reeves Collection Object List (accession file 70/235) – ‘Accn. No.: 71/139 // Classification: CRAFTS // Description: Brace. Iron rectangle widening at end to form square hole for bit, and to be tightened with oval wing nut. Wooden rounded end.’

Sheffield

Wood, Metal