Object number
51/414
Description
An auger is a boring tool used in a variety of woodworking trades to bore long deep holes. It consists of an iron shank with a T-shaped handle at one end and a boring device at the other. A taper auger, also known as a 'reamer' is shaped like a tapered conical half-funnel. It was used to enlarge, by side paring, an existing hole made by a shell or spiral auger. It was commonly used by wheelwrights to bore out the centre of wagon hubs.
Physical description
1 taper auger: metal; fair condition - T-handle missing
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This funnel shaped, down tapering spoon auger or REAMER was used to enlarge by side paring, a hole already cut by a shell or spiral auger. Either one or both its tapering sides were sharpened, but the lower tip, which was of no use in enlarging borings was left unsharpened. This type of auger was used by wheelwrights for boring out the centre of wagon hubs. Sometimes a ring was attached to the tip of the auger, providing a grip by which the auger was drawn downwards. // This spoon auger, whose wooden handle is missing measures a total length of 18.5 inches. The upper edge is flattened for 2.5 inches of its length. The upper tip is curved and it was this part that penetrated the very wide wooden handles used with this type of auger. The square stem of the shank is 4.5 inches in length and it widens by a pair of shoulders at right angels to the stem into the stem, which is 3.6 inches in width at the top. The auger spoon is 11.5 inches in length and its tapering sharpened sides are only .9 inches apart at the tip.'
Production date
1825-01-01 - 1874-12-31
Production period
Mid-nineteenth century
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\35 series negatives\Scans\35_442.tif - High resolution image
