2002/18/6

This hammer was used by Leonard Ludlow, a tinsmith from Reading. It is stamped on the head 'L.Ludlow'. Mr Ludlow trained c.1934-7, and worked at the Railway Signal Works, and Thornycroft, Harwell and Aldermaston during his career. He often made domestic items for his family such as dustpans, vases and toasting forks.

1 hammer: wood, metal

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'TINSMITH'S TOOLS // Description // 13 Tinsmith's tools: ten hammers and three mallets // Hammers have cast metal heads and wooden handles // Mallets are all wood. // They appear to have bamboo handles. // Some of the hammers have inscriptions stamped onto the head (see attached sheet for details.) // Dimensions // See attached sheet // Associated information // Used by Mr. Leonard Ludlow of Reading - for further history see attached sheet.', MERL miscellaneous note - 'TINSMITH'S TOOLS 2002/18/1-13 // Used by Mr. Leonard Ludlow (b.1920) of Reading, Berkshire. // He left school at 14 and trained at Broadbears as a tinsmith, for about 3 years from 1934-37. // Then he began work at the Railway Signal Works, Caversham Road, Reading, making handlamps etc. for the railway workers. // WWII 1939-1945 - Mr. Ludlow was in the T.A. and was called up to service immediately. When it became apparent there was an arms shortage, he was called back to Thornycroft in Reading, making parts for ships' engines, pipes, etc... He then went back into the army. // After the war Mr. Ludlow went back to the Railway Signal Works for three years. // He then got a job at Harwell (Atomic Energy Authority). After a year he was transferred to Aldermaston, doing sheet metal work. He then moved to the planning office at Aldermaston, before retiring. // Throughout all these years Mr. Ludlow used to make things for his family. His wife showed me a dustpan he had made in c. 1949 which she was still using in 2002. Other items he had made around the house included vases, toasting forks etc, basically anything using sheet metal. // Will Phillips, June 2002', MERL miscellaneous note - 'TINSMITHS TOOLS 2002/18/1-13 // 6) [pencil sketch] // 29.5 x 10cm (length of handle x length of head) - stamped on head 'L.Ludlow'...'

1900-01-01 - 1999-12-31

Twentieth century

Metal, Wood