51/296

An awner is a tool for cutting the awns, or ears, of wheat and barley from the plant. This is grid type, or ‘jumper’ type, barley awner and is variously known as a ‘hummeler’, ‘barley chumper’ or ‘umbler’. It was found in the roof an old barn at Newbury in 1936, and was probably used in the Newbury area.

1 barley awner: metal; fair condition - wooden handle missing

Letter, Donor to The MERL, 20 March 1951 - 'I see in my son's YFC book that you would like specimens of old tools, if it is any use to you I have an old Barley Chumper or Umbler used to knock whiskers of barley after threshing with flail (at least that is what the old men call it). It is very old, I got it down from the roof of an Old Barn 15 years ago and old men of the farm said it had been up there for many years.', Letter, The MERL to Donor, 22 March 1951 - [...] We have one or two barley hummelers or 'orners' in the Museum, but we should very much like to accept the one which you so kindly offered us. I am interested to hear that in your district it is called a 'chumper' or 'umbler'. [...]', MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘Barley awner, grid // DATE ACQUIRED: March 1951 // GROUP: Threshing hand // NEGATIVE: 35/166 // PERIOD: // PLACE OF ORIGIN: [...] Newbury // NUMBER: 51/296 // DESCRIPTION: This barley awner of the flat 'jumper' type was found in an old barn at Newbury in 1936, and was presumably used in that area. The operating part of the awner is rectangular in shape measuring 16 inches long by 12 inches wide. The four 'cutters' run parallel to the longer sides, while a single cutter located in the centre cuts the four others at right angles. A curved iron piece joins each side to the centre handle socket, the handle in this case being missing’, MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘Barley awner, grid // DATE ACQUIRED: March 1951 // GROUP: Threshing hand // NEGATIVE: 35/472 // PERIOD: Unknown // PLACE OF ORIGIN: [...] Newbury // NUMBER: 51/296 // DESCRIPTION: This hummeler was found in the roof of an old barn in 1936. The iron frame is rectangular and measures 16.5 by 11 inches. The blades are set parallel to one another and are 2.25 inches apart. The wooden handle is missing, and the tool now measures 12 inches in height. The handle is connected to the frame by four curved legs. // See also 51/462’

1936-01-01 - 1936