62/309

This is a woolsack fastener. Wool was usually packed in a large sheet of coarse sacking. This was folded and the two ends sewn together to make a bag into which the fleeces were crammed. The top was then sewn up, the woolsack fastener forcing the edges together for the sewing to proceeded. This woolsack fastener was found in an old market in Dorchester.

1 woolsack fastener: metal, wood

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'WOOLSACK FASTENER // Found in old market at Dorchester, see correspondence. // See also 54/14 // [pencil sketch]', Letter, M.I. Serpell to MERL, 29 July 1962 - 'It works on the following principle: - // The wool was collected on a large piece of sacking. The hooked fork was hitched into the outer surface of the sacking. The chain was then attached to the wooden handle. // The wool was then pushed into a compact bale by constantly shortening the chain. When the edges of the sacking meet the bale was stitched together with string

Metal, Wood