71/142

A weeding tool, inscribed with the word 'The Wikeham Patent Weed Eradicator'. It consists of a long cylindrical brass tube with a spring-loaded spike at the end. 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 weed extractor: brass

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: WEED ERADICATOR // Accession number: 71/142 // … // Recorder: JMB // Date: New sheet 30.11.87 // Description: A cylindrical brass tool with a spike at the end which is spring loaded. The tube can be dismantled by unscrewing. At the top end there is an iron plate which may serve as a handle. // Dimensions: Total length: 84.0 cm // Length of spike: 7.0 cm // Associated information: Inscription: THE ‘WIKEHAM’ ERADICATOR // PATENT WEED’, Reeves Collection Object List (accession file 70/235) – ‘Accn. No.: 71/142 // Classification: GARDENS // Description: Weed eradicator. Long cylindrical brass tube, with iron rectangular projection at one end to form a handle, and a narrow brass tube at the opposite end fittings into the main tube and ending with 3 rings, washer and spike split at ends. Inscription in raised capitals, ‘The Wikeham Patent Weed Eradicator’.’