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This stool was used in conjunction with a workbench by a cobbler in Slinfold, West Sussex.
This stool was used in conjunction with a workbench, and was used by a cobbler in Slinfold, West Sussex. It is rectangular in shape, with four legs., and could fit underneath the desk-style workbench.

1 stool: wood; cloth; poor condition

MERL miscellaneous note - '(2) Cobblers Workbench + stool. Shoemakers had to sit when making shoes + boots by hand. The boot or shoe was held by a strap over the knee + under the waist of foot. The sections on the bench were to hold a variety of rivets. Generally there was a leather loop into which a candle was placed + lighted to work by. It could also be adjusted to heat the finishing irons. 56/105. 56/114. // ... // In general factory practice the work is still carried out in principle as of old but done by machines. Some of the machines are very wonderful as are the machinists who work them.', Letter, Mrs FitzRandolph to MERL, 6th November 1955 - 'Our village cobbler has just given up work and in his workshop he has left a lot of equipment which, he maintains, is mine because it all belonged to the workshop which he took over complete from the former cobbler (who was also a bootmaker). There is his work stool, with a padded seat at one end, widening out at the other end to form a table or bench with little partitions fitted to make boxes for the nails; another low bench with similar fitted boxes, and a set of tools (which this man didn't use, having his own.) I imagine that the workshop was built and equipped by the first bootmaker, perhaps between 60 and 80 years ago. Would these benches and tools be of sufficient interest for preservation in your museum? ...'

1875-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Late-nineteenth century

Wood, Fibre