70/196

H. J. Maltby (Manufacturer)

This basket was made 1926–1927 by H. J. Maltby (the donor’s father), who was foreman at G. W. Scott and Sons, a London basketmaking firm. The General Post Office commissioned Scotts to make a folding post office hamper, of which this is a scale model. However, the full sized hamper was never made because hampers were superseded by the mail bag. It is a rectangular basket with a lid, made of willow (probably buff) and cane, with wooden slats, metal hinges and wire pins. It is an extremely complex basket, made of flat panels of different sizes which are locked in place and are folded in a specific order to make the basket a 'flat-pack'.

1 folding basket/hamper: willow; dowel; wire; cane; metal fastenings and hinges

MERL ‘Stakeholders’ recording form, December 2013 – Object number: 70/196 // Name of recorder: Hilary Burns and Sarah Le Breton // General construction method: Stake and strand // Overall shape: Rectangular with lid. // Materials: Probably buff willow, rattan, wood slats, metal hinges, wire pins and hinges. // Base: Complex basket made up of a basket base and 4 side panels and a separate lid. // Sides: Each side panel is of a different size, consisting of randing and waling with a border along one edge. // Border: – // Handles: Remains of 2 side handles of cranked willow. // Lid: Lid has 2 pieces of cane – non border and 4 x spaces in the weave for wooden slates of panels to slot into. Metal loops for pin to secure lid protrude through. // Dimensions: See diagram of unfolded basket. // Anything else to note about this particular basket: Unique design, ingenious folding and locking features. Each side of basket has a hinge at a different height and 2 pins on each of the short sides run the lengths of the end sticks to lock the panels into place. ‘Flat-pack basket’. This basket has to be folded in a specific order. (1) Side panel (7” high x 10” wide) onto base. (2) Opposite side panel folded on top and overlap of 2” onto (1). (3) Front panel folds inwards onto (2). (4) Back panel. (5) Lid folds down flat on top over all panels and fits dimensions of base. // Anything else to note about this type of basket: –, MERL Recording form – ‘Who used it: – // When was it used: Never // How was it used: – see 15 // Where was it used: – // Has it a local name: – // When this object was used do you know if it was common in many parts of the country or only in the place from which it came: // Who made it: H. J. Maltby – father of the donor – foreman at Scott’s Basket Works. 4 Tower St, Cambridge Circus, London, W. 1 // When was it made: 1926–27 // Where was it made: At Scott’s (see 7) // From what materials is the object made: Willow, dowel, wire, cane, metal fastenings & hinges. // Is it corroded or broken or damaged in any other way: Bottom slightly worn. A little worn. // What are its approximate measurements: Open – L. 14” W. 10” H. 9” // Closed – L. 14” W. 10” H. 4” // Have you a photograph of the object: No // Has it any unusual characteristics: It was made to fold up in exact sequence. // Additional information: The G. P. O. asked Scott’s to make a folding Post Office Hamper (dimensions 27” x 20” x 30”) Mr Maltby made this model to scale. It was never made because the Mail Bag came in & hampers were superseded. His son kept it as an example of his work. // Could you please make a rough sketch of the object: [pencil sketch]’‘, See TR REE/P2/B2241: c. 1900, CATALOGUE of wicker baskets, hampers and chairs, G.W. Scott & Sons, 144 Charing Cross Rd., London W.C. Pp 20., See TR REE/P2/B2243: c. 1920, CATALOGUE of wicker work chairs and linen baskets, G.W. Scott & Sons, 144 Charing Cross Rd., London W.C. Pp 16.

Greater London [region]

1926 - 1927

Wood, willow, buff, Plant fibre, rattan, Wood, Metal

G. W. Scott and Sons ()
Burns, Hilary (Recorder)
Le Breton, Sarah (Recorder)