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Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas (CoSIRA) (Designer)

This is a mechanical thatching needle developed by CoSIRA (Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas) in the 1970s. It consists of a needle attached to a long pointed arm and operated by a handle and spring to open and close it. It could be thrust through the thatch on one side of the rafter, and then the lever mechanism operated to bring the needle arm with the thread back up the other side of the rafter. However, the design never really took off. The needle is part of a collection of thatching tools donated by Jeff King, a thatcher and former thatching advisor at CoSIRA.

1 mechanical thatching needle: metal; good condition

MERL miscellaneous note – ‘Collection of thatching tools given by Mr Geoff [Jeff] King, … , Evesham, Worcs, … , in February 1994. // Geoff King: // Took advantage of gov’t rehabilitation scheme on leaving the navy in 1957 to learn thatching. He was taught by George Wright, a thatcher of Nurseling, Southampton. After three years, he set up business on his own account on the outskirts of Southampton. // In 1970 he became Thatching Adviser for COSIRA [Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas]. This involved much travel, giving advice to other thatchers, house owners, public authorities etc. The job also involved being one of the tutors on the thatching course run at Knuston Hall adult education centre, near Wellingborough, Northants. These are two week courses for apprentice thatchers and they have to attend three a year. The courses are put on by the Rural Development Commission, successor body to COSIRA. // Geoff King retired in the summer of 1993, but reorganisation with the Rural Development Commission resulted in a delay in the appointment of his successor so he stayed on a little longer. // The tools that Mr King has given to the Museum have been collected in the course of his work around the country over the last twenty years and were accessories in his teaching. // See The Thatcher’s Craft, Rural Industries Bureau, 1960. Library ref. 5790. Chapter 7, Thatching Tools and Materials, P.205.’, MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Recorder: RB/JMB // Date: August 1994 // Description: An all iron needle attached to a long pointed arm and operated by a handle and spring to open and close it. // Dimensions: Total length: 106 cm // Associated information: This mechanical needle was developed by COSIRA (now the Rural Development Commission) in the 1970’s. It could be thrust through the thatch on one side of the rafter, the lever mechanism then operated to bring the needle arm with the thread back up the other side of the rafter. // A good idea which has not taken off. // References: …, Typed/hand-written list in accession file: No. 50.

1970-01-01 - 1979-12-31

1970s