Object number
2002/19/4
Description
This timber scribe was used by Horace Dines (1905-1988) during his cooper's apprenticeship at Meux, a London brewery. Mr Dines was later head cooper at Simmons of Reading and head manager at Courage Central. Timber scribes are used by coopers as well as other tradesmen to inscribe marks or works onto wood.
Physical description
timber scribe: metal, wood
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'COOPER'S TOOLS // Description // 5 Cooper's tools: // 1 compass (2002/19/1) // 2 hoop drivers (2002/19/2+3) // 1 timber scribe (2002/19/14) // 1 box scraper plane (2002/19/5) // See attached sheet for separate details. // ... Associated information // Used by Horace Dines (b.1905-d.1988) during his cooper's apprenticeship at Meux (London brewers). // In 1947 he became head cooper at Simmons of Reading. // He then became head manager of Courage Central. Retired in 1970 // See also Acc. No. 2002/20 and 2002/21 for two sample casks made by apprentices at Simmons and deposited by Mr. Dines along with these tools.', MERL miscellaneous note - 'COOPER'S TOOLS 2002/19/1-5 // [pencil sketch] // TIMBER SCRIBE 2002/19/4 // Turned wooden handle; metal forked head, one prong ending in spike and the other bent over at the end to form cutter; additional cutter on the side of the spiked prong. // 18cm (total length)', Photocopy of library item [Salaman, R. A. 'Dictionary of Tools used in the woodworking and allied trades c. 1700-1970', p.484] - 'Timber Scribe (Scriber; Race Knife; Scorer; Scrieve or Scrive Hook; Scriving Knife; Skiven Iron; Raze Knife)... // The simplest type consists of a steel blade with the end bent round to form a sharp gouge-like cutter; this excavates a groove (or 'race') when pulled toward the user. Others incorporate a central spike and a second cutter for making a circular groove, and an additional drag-knife for scribing numbers and letters. They are used by foresters, timber merchants, shipwrights, coopers, and other tradesmen to inscribe serial numbers, letters, or code marks on timber and wooden objects. Medieval carpenters used a Scribe (or a V-shaped Chisel) to mark the members of a wood-framed building. This was done to ensure that when the parts of the frame were transported to the site for erection, each tenon would be fitted into the mortice for which it was intended. // ... Coopers sometimes use a Timber Scribe for cutting a croze groove in very small casks, especially during repair...'
Production date
1925-01-01 - 1974-12-31
Production period
Mid-twentieth century
Object name
Material
Associated subject
Associated person/institution