51/273

A crimping machine was used to press frills and flounces into fabric by crimping the material between the two grooved brass rollers. The rollers were turned by a handle at the side and the pressure could be adjusted by the screws. This crimping machine was used in the East Yorkshire villages of Skidby and Bishop Burton.

1 crimping machine: metal (brass, iron); wood; good condition

Letter, Donor to The MERL, 1 February 1951 - 'Having seen in the Reading paper about the formation of a Museum of English Rural Life and having in my possession an old 'crimping' machine, I shall be pleased to offer this to you if you think it will be of interest.', Letter, The MERL to Donor, 7 February 1951 - 'Thank you very much for your letter of February 1st offering us a crimping machine for the Museum. [...] I shall be extremely grateful if you could fill in any information you know about this machine on the attached sheet, as this would assist us greatly in our work of classifying'., MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘Crimping machine // DATE ACQUIRED: February 1951 // GROUP: Domestic cleaning laundering // NEGATIVE: 60/13717// PERIOD: c. 1850// PLACE OF ORIGIN: [...] Reading, Berkshire // NUMBER: 51/273 // DESCRIPTION: This machine was used in the E. Yorkshire villages of Skidby and Bishop Burton. // The rollers of the machine are made of brass and are mounded on an iron stand. Two screws fitted into the stand above the rollers alter the pressure. The rollers are turned by a handle fixed to the lower of the two. // The machine is about 12 inches long and 9 inches high. It is mounted on a rectangular wooden stand 7 by 5.75 inches. It was longer originally but the bevelling along one of the short sides has broken away // See also 51/253.’

1825-01-01 - 1874-12-31

Mid-nineteenth century

Metal, brass, Metal, iron, Wood