[nb-NO]Object number[nb-NO]
59/196
[nb-NO]Description[nb-NO]
This is plain, wooden, lever-type nutcracker which is missing its securing pin. It was found behind the wainscoting at a house in Buckland-tout-Saints, Devon.
[nb-NO]Physical description[nb-NO]
1 lever nutcracker: wood; fair condition- securing pin missing; decayed at end of one handle
[nb-NO]Archival history[nb-NO]
Article, ‘Countryman’, Summer 1958 – ‘I have two unsolved problems on which I shall be glad to hear from readers who know of similar objects and their uses. The first comes from Mrs Margaret Warden, of Kingsbridge, Devon, who sent the tool illustrated over the page. She used to live at Buckland Tout Saints, which is only a mile or two from Kingsbridge. When a troublesome chimney in her house there was being repaired, the wainscoting in the deal-panelled room was taken down and the tool was found behind it. She feels reasonably certain that it was left there when the panelling was erected, probably in the time of William and Mary. It is 6 in. long and works rather like a pair of nutcrackers. There are two small indentations on the inside just below the hinge, which is in the form of a loose mortise joint; the securing peg is missing. It has been suggested that the tool was used to withdraw the wooden pegs which secured timber joints, but I doubt whether it would have been strong enough for the purpose, and the easiest way to remove them would have been to knock them back.’
[nb-NO]Object name[nb-NO]
[nb-NO]Material[nb-NO]
[nb-NO]External document[nb-NO]
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_1940.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5492.tif - High resolution image
