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This is a wooden plumbing bobbin which is used for testing sizes of and checking for dents in pipes. This example was used by plumber Mathew Chaplin of Newbury, Berkshire.

1 bobbin: wood; good condition- used; fine cracks

MERL Catalogue Form (temporary) – ‘Bobbin // wood // use- Mathew Chaplin, 1895, Newbury, Berkshire // Dr J. Morland’, MERL Miscellaneous note- 'Plumber- Matthew Chaplin is listed as a plumber of Adam and Eve Road, Newbury, Berks in Kelly's Directory 1895. In the 1924 ed. Chapman's address is given simply as Speen (now part of Newbury). There is no entry for Chaplin in 1939. // Dr J. J. Morland, the Duke House, Aldermaston acquired the tools from Tim Denson who took over Chapman's son's house at Speen and who had purchased them in 1976. // Dr Morland hopes to find the address of the present Chapman (grandson of Matthew). This Chaplins address before he left was Bow Cottage, Speen, Newbury. It would appear that the plumbers brushes may have been carried on from Bow Cottage. // Pending further information via Dr Moreland there is nothing more to record. Tools can be checked in the catalogues in trade records.'