Object number
96/88
Description
This is a well made scythe which is complete and in good order. The ridged blade has been strengthened by a rivetted strip 29cm long. The inscription is not invisible. The object was used to manually cut crops at harvest time.
Physical description
1 scythe: wood; metal; good condition
Label Text
Scythe. The scythe was used to manually cut crops or grass at harvest time. It has largely been replaced - initially by horse-drawn, and more recently tractor machinery, and combine harvesters, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. However, the scythe remained in common use for many years after the introduction of machines because early machinery, whether horse or tractor drawn, could not mow in front of itself and scythes were still needed to open up a field by clearing the first swathe to give the mechanical mower room to start.
Archival history
MERL Miscellaneous note-Georgia Charitou- 27 October 2014- This collection of tools 96/81-96/90 belonged to the donor's father, George Ernest Brown, and grandfather, Charles Lesley Brown. The Browns were a well known family of shop keepers in Bramley. The business was started by Mrs Monger's great- grandfather, also George Ernest Brown, who moved to Bramley to Sonning in c. 1898. He set up a shop selling promisions, bread etc. He kept pigs and sold bacon. The shop expanded and became the principle supplier of goods in and around Bramley. The shop continued to run until the 1960's. The premises have since been converted to offices. Mrs Monger's father, George Ernest Brown, ran a petrol station in Bramley from 1958-1979. The premises are now used as estate agents. almost certainly made by blacksmith Alfred Willis of Bramley, Hampshire
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External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_16783.tif - High resolution image
