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A masher is a tool used when making saddles, for smoothing the panel and also for shaping, or 'blocking', the pig skin seat. This masher is made from lignum vitae, a strong wood. This masher was used by a saddler and cobbler in Yattendon, Berkshire, who had worked there from 1901 until the early 1960s.

1 masher: wood [lignum vitae]

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Masher // Description //masher of lignum vitae // Dimensions // height 14.5cms. // width/dia. 9cms. // Associated information // This masher was obtained from a saddler's workshop at Yattendon, nr Reading. // 'The masher is used as a smoothing tool on the panel and may also be used in shaping (blocking) the pigskin seat' ('Council for small industries in rural areas') // References // Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, 'Making a Saddle', 1973. pp.12-13. pp.48-50', Letter, Miss F. Palmer to Mr Higgs, 2nd May 1962 - 'Our village Saddler + cobbler Mr Burnham has just died. He had had the shop here since 1901 and his father was also a saddler in Reading...', MERL miscellaneous note - 'This tool is used in a similar manner to collar maker's mallet, for smoothing by light tapping the edges of a blocked saddle seat; for levelling and consolidating the stuffing in the seat with heavier blows; and for making heavy "smashing" blows to the modern stuffed leather panel, where the regulating awl cannot be used.' from 'Dictionary of Leather-Working Tools c.1700-1950' by R. A. Salaman, p.271 [see attachments].

1901 - 1962