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A rope jack was used by ropemakers to spin their own yarn. It consists of two pairs of iron hooks turned in opposite directions by cog wheels. Hanks of hemp were placed on the hooks and the strands were twisted and joined by turning the handle of the rope jack. Lavinia Smith acquired this rope jack from Henry Vaisey, a ropemaker of Abingdon, Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire), where halters and plough lines were made until 1924.

1 Jack: wood; metal; good condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Ropers used to spin their own yarn from tow or hemp, but now the yarn is spun in the mills. The yarn is then twisted into separate strands by turning the handle of the rope-jack while the further ends are fastened to a heavy cart, also known as a WAIN or TRAILER. // This rope-jack consists of a wooden upright into which are set four iron hooks turned by cog wheels. The hooks are in pairs and turn in opposite directions. Hanks of hemp were placed on the hooks and the strands were twisted and joined by turning the handle of the rope-jack. Usually the further ends were secured to a hook on a heavy cart, and the handle of this hook was chained down to prevent it revolving with the twisting strands. As soon as these were twisted tightly enough, the handle was released and the strands automatically twisted round one another in the reverse direction. To control the second twist, the roper usually inserted a top between the strands before he released the handle. These tops are wooden cones fluted at the sides and with a hole bored through the centre. When the rope was complete, it was smeared with flour paste. // This rope-jack came from Mr. Henry Vaisey of The Vineyard, Abingdon. Halters and ploughlines were made there until 1924. It measures 39.5 inches in height and the stand is 30 inches in length.', Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - 'A list of the contents of the East Hendred museum. July 5 1940 // Heating and Cooking // 236-238. Three rope-making implements, the last remnants of the rope-making industry of Abingdon which had made that town soprosperous [sic] in the middle ages. The many picturesque but unsanitary courts of Abingdon were the ropewalks. HenryVaisey [sic] went on making halters and ploughlines for many years in the long loft int he Vineyard where his father had employed 100 men. I used to watch the making of ploughlines until 1924 when I was little in Abingdon. Hnks of hemp were put on the 4 hooks and Vaisey turned the handle which twisted and joined the strands. As the rope was formed and contracted it was starightened out by an old man with a wooden leg assisted by a rough but effective lump of wood resting on a little platform what [sic] ran on two little wooden wheels. As a last stage when the rope was completed, while it was held taut the old man filled his cupped hand with flour paste and walked along smearing it into the rope. The paste would freeze if the weather got very cold so no ropemaking [sic] could then be done in the loft. At that time there was a row of large looms standing along the wall where sacks used to be woven. Viaey [sic] sold me a spinningwheel for spoinning the hemp used in the sackmaking. and [sic] also a small rough instrument for making cord.', Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 392 // Rope-making Implement // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.'

Wood, Metal

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)