83/34

This is a heavy brass syringe with pump action. The pump handle is wooden. It has three different end pieces, one to form a jet and two roses. This type of syringe was used in the garden for spraying insecticides. It belonged to the donor's father. The donor herself once helped at a Girl Guide Rally in 1959 where she briefly looked after the Princess Alice of Athlone.

1 syringe: brass; heavy

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: SYRINGE // Accession number: 83/34 // Classification: GARDEN TOOLS // Negative number: 60/14409 // Acquisition method: Gift // Acquired from, date: Miss M. N. Wood, [...], May 1983 // Store: Small object store // Condition: Good // Recorder, date: J. M. Betts 11.5.83 // Description: A heavy brass syringe with pump action. The pump handle is wooden. It has three different end pieces - one to form a jet and two roses. // Dimensions: Length: 60.0cm // Associated information: This type of syringe was used in the garden for spraying insecticides. // MERL COL. SLIDE NO. 4624 // References: TR SPE P2/A13 Catalogue H16 Skelton Sheffield p.135 // Shire Album 41 Old Garden Tools', Letter, Miss Margaret N. Wood to MERL, 22 March 1983 – 'Dear Mr Brigden, // I called at the Museum of English Rural Life on Saturday to make a query & was recommended to contact you. // I have two quite old brass garden syringes which belonged to my father. It would give me pleasure to put them in a museum. They may not be very old or perfect. However, what do you feel? // The other interest which I have never told anyone. In 1959 I helped at a Girl Guide Rally & looked after for a short spell the Princess Alice of Athlone. The old Sutton[?] house was being used as a 'ladies' & was then the museum. She asked me if we could look at it. I knowing very little allowed her to do so! She showed me around! And described several old things for a few minutes. I kept it to myself for her sake, obviously escaping from 'Royalty' for a brief spell. // I look forward to a proper view of the most interesting museum sometime when I am in Reading. // Yours sincerely, // Margaret N Wood', Letter, MERL to Miss Margaret N. Wood, 24 March 1983 – 'Dear Miss Wood, // Thank you for your letter and offer of the brass garden syringes. I would be interested in accepting one for the collections here so perhaps when you are next over in this direction you could bring one with you. If you telephone beforehand, I could arrange to meet you. // Yours sincerely, // Roy D. Brigden // Keeper, Museum of English Rural Life'