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Brades (Manufacturer)

This is a ripper, a slatting tool used in roof repair work for cutting slate nails when removing broken slates, and for cutting the nail heads when replacing missing slates. The ripper is pushed up under the slate and one of the sharpened edges hooked over the nail – the ripper is then struck with a hammer. This ripper is unusally long, and is inscribed 'Brades // Made in England'. It was found by the donor when clearing out an old store.

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – ‘See correspondence – information highly unreliable. See below:– // Used in roof repair work for cutting slate nails for the removal of broken slates and for cutting the nail heads prior to replacing missing slates. // [Sketch] // The tool is pushed up under the slate and one of the sharpened edges A [in sketch] hooked over the nail and the face B [in sketch] struck with a hammer. This is rather a long ripper [32”] – 23” and 27” are standard sizes. // A. G. Turner’, MERL Recording form – ‘Who used it: ? // When was it used: Many years ago // How was it used: Pushed up under a tile to trim up the wooden peg which fastened the tile it overlapped. // Where was it used: ? // Has it a local name: ? // When this object was used do you know if it was common in many parts of the country or only in the place from which it came: Common. // Who made it: Brades // When was it made: ? // Where was it made: – // From what materials is the object made: Steel forged? // Is it corroded or broken or damaged in any other way: No // What are its approximate measurements: – // Have you a photograph of the object: – // Has it any unusual characteristics: – // Additional information: We don’t even know where it came from // Could you please make a rough sketch of the object: –‘

Birmingham