Objectnummer
2011/22/1-4
Vervaardiger
Beschrijving
This trench saw comes with two detachable wooden handles and a brown, square leather case. It was used to cut timber. It probably belonged to the donor's father, Edward George Henry Fletcher who was known as Jack and was born on 19th April 1897 and died on 15th January 1969. He joined the infantry in 1914 and served until 1918 in the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, spending some time in the trenches before joining a transport corp as a horse outrider for gun carriages. After the First World War, he returned to live in North East London. He worked in London until his retirement. The saw may have originally belonged to the donor's grandfather who married in Hereford and lived in East Anglia before moving to London.
Fysieke kenmerken
1 trench saw: metal; good condition; War Department Broad Arrow symbol engraved above number '28' on one side of one of the brass end rings, 'Francis Wood & Son Sheffield 1917' engraved on the other side2 detachable handles: wood; metal; good condition1 case: leather; metal; fair condition; broken seam on the right, 1 missing strap on the back, HINDMARCH BROS 1918' stamped into the front
Archiefgeschiedenis
Email, Howard Fletcher to MERL, 26 August 2011 - 'Attached is a photo of the old saw - it is about 45" overall and has two wooden removable handles. // Stamped into the leather case is:- HINDMARCH BROS 1918 // Sorry but I have no history other than that it has occupied the bottom of a box for as long as I can remember! // If it is of any use to you I will gladly donate it to the Museum - if not any suggestions would be welcome, just throwing it on the tip seems a shame.', Email, Ollie Douglas to Howard Fletcher, 5 September 2011 - 'I'm asking around to see if these items are common and have already circulated details to my colleagues. As I think I explained, I need to establish whether there are already numerous comparable items in other publically held collections. I also need to check that colleagues are keen to acquire the item in question. We already hold one similar hand-operated chain saw. I'm not 100% certain we can justify acquiring another but I'll discuss with colleagues in greater detail. // The only response I've had so far (from our Learning Manager) underlines my concerns that we would probably only evenr use such an item for research and/or display and that it would not make a useful addition to the collections for educational use as it is quite hazardous to handle. This would have been a loophole enabling us to acquire another example. However, that said we have other factors to consider and I will ask my other colleagues for assessments from their perspectives. // Incidentally, I discovered that such saws were originally invented (or purportedly so at least!) for use by surgeons and medical professionals in performing amputations. Am I right in thinking that you said this example belonged, most likely, to your father (or to another family member) at some stage? Also, I know you do not really know why you came to have it but, assuming it most likely came from another family member, can you remind me of where they would probably have been living when they purchased/used/acquired it, and what might have been the reason for their obtaining such a tool. If there is no more information, as I think may be the case, please do not worry.', Email, Howard Fletcher to MERL, 08 September 2011 - 'Thanks for your note - I don't want to put you to too much trouble in finding a home for the Old Saw - I would hate to think of a leg amputation with such an implement probably with little or no anasthetic! // I have no recollections of my father ever referring to this saw or using it - in 1918 (the date stamp on the case) he would have been 21 years old just returned from the First World War and living in North East London, he eventually found work in London and continued there until his retirement. I assumed that it originally belonged to my grandfather who was married in Hereford and also lived in East Anglia (both more agricultural places) before moving to London. // Shall I just dispose of it?', Email, Howard Fletcher to MERL, 14 September 2011 - 'I've looked more closely at the brass end rings (perhaps I should have done this before!) and can see a broad arrow head with a number 28 and on the other side the manufacturers name and date stamp: Francis Wood & Son, Sheffield. 1917 - hopefully the attached photos will show this. // My father joined the infantry in 1914 and served in the trenches for some time before being transferred to a transport section being an outrider with a munitions limber. // Don't know if I am not pressing the right buttons but I am unable to open the illustration on your previous email but I guess it was the arrowhead.'
Vervaardiging plaats
Sheffield
Datum
1917 - 1917 1918 - 1918
Objectnaam
Materiaal
Formaat
- Length 1130 mm
- Width 30 mm
- Depth 3 mm
- Length 40 mm
- Diameter 25 mm
- Length 161 mm
- Width 194 mm
- Depth 70 mm