80/72

Stanley Bird (Basketware) Ltd. (Manufacturer)

This is a basketwork bilge strainer, probably used on the inlet pipe of a bilge pump to prevent it getting blocked by seaweed etc. It is a round, bottle-shaped basket, open at the narrow end, and is made of cane. It was made by Stanley Bird (Basketware) Ltd. of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

One bilge pump basket: basketwork (material unknown); good condition.

MERL ‘Stakeholders’ recording form, December 2013 – Object number: 80/72 // Name of recorder: Bunty Ball and John Page // General construction method: Stake and strand // Overall shape: [sketch] // Materials: Cane – Palembang? 2? different colours. Texture of cane (one smoother than the other) // Base: 2 x 3 rods – making 10 side stakes, with 1 extra rod inserted to make 11. Tying in slath and four rows of pairing. // Sides: Using continuous rand. Gradually bringing shape into the next. Joining by prick rand in 2 places. // Border: Trac // Handles: No handles // Lid: No lid // Dimensions: Length 20cm. Top diameter 7cm. Diameter at widest point 13cm. // Anything else to note about this particular basket: –// Anything else to note about this type of basket: See Basketmakers’ Association Newsletters 117 & 6 on Stroms. Similar type used by firemen for the end of their hose to stop weed etc. being sucked up from pond water. This basket is a small item so could have been made from materials left over from larger work., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: bilge pump basket // Accession number: 80/72 // … // Recorder: DJE // Date: 6.1.1981 // Description: // Dimensions: height – 20 cms (approx.) // Associated information: This basket fits over the outlet pipe of a bilge pump and prevents seaweed, fish etc. from getting in [Bunty Ball and John Page studied this basket during the 'Stakeholders' project and think it is more likely to be used on the inlet pipe to stop things blocking the pump]. Made by Stanley Bird (Basketware) Ltd. Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk.’, See TR MRL/P2/B12 – CATALOGUE of Basketware, 14 June 1954, Including Shopping Baskets, Pot Holders and Troughs, Chairs, Pet Baskets, Linen Baskets, Garden Baskets, Fishing Baskets: Stanley Bird: pp 20

Great Yarmouth

1980

Strainer, bilge, Basketwork

Hughes, Diana (Agent)
Ball, Bunty (Recorder)
Page, John (Recorder)