H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y O F C H E S H I R E C O U N T Y ' S

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

W O N D E R B O X # 1

T O U C H A B L E A R T I F A C T S & A C T I V I T I E S F O R S T U D E N T S 3 - 1 2 H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y O F C H E S H I R E C O U N T Y

WORD OF CAUTION

T h i s w o n d e r b o x c o n t a i n s s o m e t o u c h a b l e a r t i f a c t s t h a t a r e 1 0 0 y e a r s o l d o r m o r e . P l e a s e b e g e n t l e i n y o u r h a n d l i n g o f t h e m .

S o m e o f t h e o b j e c t s h a v e s h a r p p o i n t s a n d h e a v y , r e m o v a b l e p a r t s . T h e s e i t e m s s h o u l d b e h a n d l e d w i t h c a r e . T e a c h e r s s h o u l d w a r n t h e i r s t u d e n t s a b o u t t h e d a n g e r s o f m i s - h a n d l i n g t h e s e a r t i f a c t s . I N V E N T O R Y O F T O U C H A B L E A R T I F A C T S

1 . M O R T A R & P E S T L E Made of during the 1700s and 1800s, this was used at home to grind salt, sugar, herbs, roots, and spices. The apothecary would also use this tool to grind and mix medicinal herbs.

2 . R A S P One of the most common , the (also known as a file) was used by woodworkers and metalworkers to file sharp edges. Farriers could use a rasp, too, to file down horses' hooves before putting on horseshoes.

3 . M E A S U R I N G W H E E L This tool was used to measure the outside of a wheel to determine its circumference. Once this length was known, a metal tire could be fitted onto the wheel. Blacksmiths and wheelwrights used this tool. It was also known as a traveler, follower or tire runner. I N V E N T O R Y O F T O U C H A B L E A R T I F A C T S

4 . C O B B L E R ' S L A S T Shoemakers made these wooden models of feet to help them in forming shoes by hand. the Shoes were shaped around the last so that the cobbler could sew and tack it to make the shoe. Lasts were made in many different sizes to accommodate feet sizes.

5 . V U L T U R E ' S T A L O N This tool was used to pull teeth in the 1800s and was sometimes the job of the local blacksmith because there was not a dental profession at the time. Dentists, specializing in tooth care, were not common in NH until the mid-to-late 1800s.

6 . S P O K E S H A V E

This tool was originally used by wheelwrights to shape the spokes for wooden wheels. The spokeshave was also used by cabinetmakers. This tool here dates to before the Civil War (pre-1860). It's blade creates a curved shape as it cuts through the wood. I N V E N T O R Y O F T O U C H A B L E A R T I F A C T S

7 . T R A N S P L A N T E R This tool was used in the early-to-mid 1800s to remove plants from the soil in order to move them from one place to another without hurting the roots.

8 . T E L E G R A P H K E Y Samuel Morse invented the telegraph in the 1840s. This was a system of sending messages over long distances in the form of electrical impulses sent over wires. The messages were sent and received on a telegraph key. It took telegraphers about six months to learn Morse Code, a series of dots and dashes arranged in different patters to make letters.

9 . C A N D L E S N U F F E R / T R I M M E R Candle wicks, in the 18th and 19th century, were made from twisted threads of cloth. Trimming the wick to get rid of "candle snuffs" was important way to keep the candle from getting too hot, smoking too much, or melting too much. Snuffers were like scissors for cutting off excess sooty thread and holding the hot, messy 'snuff' in the metal container section. I N V E N T O R Y O F T O U C H A B L E A R T I F A C T S

1 0 . L U N C H B O X This lunchbox could have been used by factory workers or farm hands who were traveling to work outside of their homes on a daily basis. The cup and interior food storage containers are removable so the person could store their entire meal together.

1 1 . P R I N T B L O C K Prior to letterpress printing methods, printers would have to carve entire newspaper pages onto a wooden block or use individually-carved letters to create all of the words on a page. This metal plate style block made life much easier for printers in the 1800s and early 1900s. Notice the lettering is made backwards so that when it is inked and applied to a piece of paper, it reads correctly.

1 2 . " B I L L Y C L U B " Now called a police baton, billy clubs were used by police officers and night watchmen at factories, in the mid-to-late 1800s, to subdue criminals and maintain public order. I N V E N T O R Y O F T O U C H A B L E A R T I F A C T S

1 3 . I R O N This tool was used in most households and laundry businesses to iron clothes or cloth. When opened carefully, an iron plate can be removed to heat up in the stove. It was then moved to the iron and locked in place. Those who ironed needed to be very careful so as not to burn themselves or burn a hole through the cloth.

1 4 . D A R N I N G E G G Darning eggs were used by women at home in the 1800s and early 1900s as a tool for repairing stockings. If a sock or stocking had a hole in it, the textileworker in the home could slip the darning egg inside which stretched the fibers and made it easier to re-stitch and repair the stocking.

W H A T E L S E ?

What are some other types of tools you can think of that may have been used long ago? Who may have used that kind of tool? H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y O F C H E S H I R E C O U N T Y SAMPLE ACTIVITIES

Mortar/Pestle: Grind several herbs and spices using modern mortar and pestles. Make potpourri sachets or make your own varieties of tea.

Vulture's Talon: Examine this object. How have dental tools changed over time? Describe your recent experience at the dentist.

Telegraph: How do we send messages over long distance today? Name five ways. Use the Morse Code guide on the next page to write your name. Do we have other ways of writing in code today?

Print Block: Make your own print block with students: http://artcuratorforkids.com/making-art-with- kids-block-printing/ e d o C e s r o M