51/46

Spoke shaves were used for a variety of purposes - by wheelwrights for shaving the spokes of wagon wheels, by carpenters for smoothing tool handles and by coopers for finishing off barrel staves. This spoke shave was used by a Windsor chair maker for shaving down chair seats after they had been adzed and polished, and is called a 'travisher'. The blade is shielded by a guard which regulates the depth of the cut.

1 travisher spokeshave; wood and steel; good condition: slightly cracked wood in middle

Citation in publication [H. J. Massingham, 'Country Relics' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939)] –'There were shears, pincers, a cleaver for splitting a rod into three pieces (still used in the Isle of Athelney) and a shave to find it down.' (p.193), MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/46 // NAME: SPOKE SHAVE // NEG NO.: 35/74 // STORAGE: '