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Gray (Manufacturer)

Strickle for sharpening scythe and sickle blades. This example was made by Gray family of Humberston, Lincolnshire. Strickle making by this family goes back to 1709. First strickles were made from slats of wood which were greased and sanded (the wood coming from American apple barrels). Robert Gray (1760-1840) evolved a mixture to replace grease and sand which was used by succeeding generations with only slight modification up to 1956. The recipe was a closely guarded family secret until 1964. On Robert Gray's death in 1840, work continued by his son Ziba (1814-1898) at Humberston. On Ziba Gray's death in 1898, work continued by his son Robert who made three quarters of the strickles at Ulceby (North Lincolnshire), while Sarah Gray, his sister, made the remaining quarter at Humberston. This was to enable Sarah to have an income while looking after her widowed mother, Elizabeth. All business transferred to Mr. Charles Gray at Humberston on his uncle Robert's death at Ulceby in 1910. Charles Gray, 86 years old in 1965, made the last strickle in 1956.

1 strickle: wood; 'secret' mixture; good condition

Humberston