Object number
54/396
Description
This stay socket, also called a 'strouter', was found in the builders yard of Fowler and Company, West Harptree. It is in the form of an iron cup fixed to the bottom of a cart wagon for holding the lower end of the wooden side stay. They could have been made out of old cart tyres.
Physical description
1 stay socket or strouter: metal (iron)
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘… // DATE ACQUIRED: // GROUP: // NEGATIVE: // PERIOD: // PLACE OF ORIGIN: // NUMBER: // DESCRIPTION: …‘ This stay socket or strouter was found in situ at the builders yard of Fowler and Co, West Harptree, Somerset. It is in the form of an iron cup fixed to the bottom of a cart wagon for holding the lower end of the wooden side stay. According to George Sturt (The Wheelwright's Shop 1923 page 171) old cart tyres were used in the manufacture of these sockets. Sturt writes "A set or two of sockets could be forged up at any odd time, and kept in readiness, lest a call for them should come when the Smith was busy on something else. The 'strops' were turned at right angles to the socket itself and punched for nailing down to the woodwork (they were nailed down hot for the better fitting)" // The socket which measures a total height of 4 inches along the bottom of the cup, while the projecting iron strops are each 3 inches long. There is one nail still in place.' //
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