67/30

This pair of long-nosed pliers was used at Thomas Abbey & Sons, a basketmaking firm in Selby, North Yorkshire. They are made of steel, with long curved handles. The tips, which only meet all the way down, are rounded and slightly serrated on the inside. They are not particularly a basketmaking tool, but were used for holding and squeezing basketmaking materials, such as cane, and for pulling out an end.

The family basketmaking business of Thomas Abbey & Sons was established in 1864. Mrs Snowden’s brother (Guy Abbey), father (A. E. Abbey) and grandfather were all basketmakers in the business. Her father spent some years teaching basketmaking at the Amar Singh Technical Institute in Srinagar, Kashmir, India, and was also on the Rural Industries Bureau. When Guy Abbey died there was no one to pass the firm on to, and Mrs Snowden donated several tools [67/15–67/31] which had been in use in the family for about one hundred years., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: PLIERS. // Acc. No.: 67/30 // Group: CRAFTS. WOOD BASKETS // Neg. no.: 60/8569 // Place of origin: Yorks [Yorkshire] (W. R. [West Riding]) Selby // Period in use: // DESCRIPTION // Materials: metal/Steel // User: Thos. [Thomas] Abbey & Sons // Shape and construction: Curved handles. Ends rounded, meeting flat all the way down. Inside slightly serrated at ends. // Dimensions: L. [length] 6” L. [length] of ends 1 5/8” // Use: Long-nosed pliers not particularly a basketmaker’s tool, but used for squeezing & holding or pulling out an end. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes:'

1967

Abbey, Guy ()
Abbey, A. E. ()
Rural Industries Bureau ()
Amar Singh Technical Institute ()
Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)