Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

greenstar · 16th Sep 2019, 2:56 pm

I picked up several of these things from a car boot sale as they look useful. The seller had no idea what they are either, and all he could say is they were from a sewing box. However, I can find nothing like them on the net for needlework knitting or crochet. They are more like surgical instruments! If anyone has any idea ...
Tony

Dave Moll · 16th Sep 2019, 3:49 pm

Although I've no idea what they are for, they certainly don't resemble anything used in knitting or crochet in my experience. Rope splicing? Though I might expect something chunkier.

sortedradio · 16th Sep 2019, 3:52 pm

I think they are dental tools!

ajgriff · 16th Sep 2019, 4:03 pm

Leather modelling?

Alan

paulsherwin · 16th Sep 2019, 4:14 pm

They are too big to be dental tools (maybe Nickthedentist will disagree though). They might be something to do with lacemaking, rugmaking or tapestry embroidery. If they were were part of a sewing box then they are almost certainly related to textiles.

usradcoll1 · 16th Sep 2019, 4:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

They are too big to be dental tools (maybe Nickthedentist will disagree though). They might be something to do with lacemaking, rugmaking or tapestry embroidery. If they were were part of a sewing box then they are almost certainly related to textiles.

The first item shown is a nut-pick. They used to be furnished in a set with a nutcracker, to pry the nut-meats from the shell. I have several in my tool boxes. There're useful for certain jobs.
Dave, Usradcoll1.

greenstar · 16th Sep 2019, 5:07 pm

The first item has an ornamented handle, so I doubt it would be a dental or other utilitarian tool. Nut pick sounds possible. The second item is so similar it suggests a similar use? And looking at Etsy, there are several identical ones - that seems conclusive!
Thanks for your ideas folks.

ajgriff · 16th Sep 2019, 5:11 pm

I'm fairly sure these would originally have been used by a saddler or other leather goods maker for embossing patterns in leather. The technique involves wetting the leather, embossing the desgn and allowing the leather to dry/harden. Judging by the nicely worked handles they probably date from the 19th century. Not too surprising that they would end up in some kind of sewing/craft box. Nice things to own and a good car boot find.

Alan

ms660 · 16th Sep 2019, 5:15 pm

Google vintage nut crab picks.

Lawrence.

ajgriff · 16th Sep 2019, 5:40 pm

The item in the first photos certainly looks like a nut/sea-food picker but I don't think the other two come from the stable so to speak. Are there other items in the haul?

Alan

Nickthedentist · 16th Sep 2019, 5:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by sortedradio

I think they are dental tools!

Definitely not!

paulsherwin · 16th Sep 2019, 5:52 pm

They could just be a random selection of 'pointy things' that someone has acquired over the years and put in a sewing box for want of anywhere else to put them. It's the kind of thing that I might do. Some of them are quite attractive.

ThePillenwerfer · 16th Sep 2019, 5:53 pm

I would have said manicure implements on first glance but nut picks makes sense.

ms660 · 16th Sep 2019, 6:04 pm

Mods permitting....For end shape comparison/ID only:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-n...-/292940471918

Lawrence.

greenstar · 16th Sep 2019, 7:12 pm

Lawrence is right, and I have seen those pointy ends on nut crackers before and not twigged. I googled 'nut picks' and found several identical tools, so others definitely think they are for this as Dave first suggested (6). Also I think there being several (I didn't say, but I have four in a box that held six) suggests a communal activity and nut picking makes sense .... this activity seems to have fallen by the wayside! Christmas family meals when the nuts are brought out!
Nothing else in that haul, although I did find a lovely hand drill brace on the same day, probably Victorian or earlier.
The crab picks look rather different.

ms660 · 16th Sep 2019, 7:27 pm

My Dad used to crack the Xmas nuts open with his teeth, including those really hard Almond ones, he used to take the top of his bottle of Guinness and Mums bottle of Babycham with his teeth as well....

Lawrence.

TowerRadio · 16th Sep 2019, 9:16 pm

They could well be chiropodists implements,I use to sterilise modern day versions,the two items usually now combined.Les

ITAM805 · 16th Sep 2019, 11:41 pm

I've got 2 or 3 of them somewhere. They were in my old Mums knitting box amongst the needles, dont know if they were used in that craft though?

Julesomega · 16th Sep 2019, 11:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms660

Google vintage nut crab picks.

Lawrence.

Handy when you've got to deal with some crabs

er, sorry

Graham G3ZVT · 17th Sep 2019, 12:02 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by usradcoll1

The first item shown is a nut-pick. They used to be furnished in a set with a nutcracker, to pry the nut-meats from the shell. I have several in my tool boxes. There're useful for certain jobs.
Dave, Usradcoll1.

https://www.etsy.com/sg-en/listing/5...rs-nut-cracker

https://www.adobegallery.com/artist/...turing-company

16th Sep 2019, 2:56 pm	#1
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,684	Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? I picked up several of these things from a car boot sale as they look useful. The seller had no idea what they are either, and all he could say is they were from a sewing box. However, I can find nothing like them on the net for needlework knitting or crochet. They are more like surgical instruments! If anyone has any idea ... Tony Attached Thumbnails

16th Sep 2019, 3:49 pm	#2
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? Although I've no idea what they are for, they certainly don't resemble anything used in knitting or crochet in my experience. Rope splicing? Though I might expect something chunkier. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

16th Sep 2019, 3:52 pm	#3
sortedradio Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 655	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? I think they are dental tools! __________________ Martin BVWS member GQRP Club

16th Sep 2019, 4:03 pm	#4
ajgriff Nonode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,587	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? Leather modelling? Alan

16th Sep 2019, 4:14 pm	#5
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,940	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? They are too big to be dental tools (maybe Nickthedentist will disagree though). They might be something to do with lacemaking, rugmaking or tapestry embroidery. If they were were part of a sewing box then they are almost certainly related to textiles.

16th Sep 2019, 5:07 pm	#7
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,684	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? The first item has an ornamented handle, so I doubt it would be a dental or other utilitarian tool. Nut pick sounds possible. The second item is so similar it suggests a similar use? And looking at Etsy, there are several identical ones - that seems conclusive! Thanks for your ideas folks. Last edited by greenstar; 16th Sep 2019 at 5:27 pm.

16th Sep 2019, 5:11 pm	#8
ajgriff Nonode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,587	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? I'm fairly sure these would originally have been used by a saddler or other leather goods maker for embossing patterns in leather. The technique involves wetting the leather, embossing the desgn and allowing the leather to dry/harden. Judging by the nicely worked handles they probably date from the 19th century. Not too surprising that they would end up in some kind of sewing/craft box. Nice things to own and a good car boot find. Alan

16th Sep 2019, 5:15 pm	#9
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? Google vintage nut crab picks. Lawrence.

16th Sep 2019, 5:40 pm	#10
ajgriff Nonode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,587	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? The item in the first photos certainly looks like a nut/sea-food picker but I don't think the other two come from the stable so to speak. Are there other items in the haul? Alan

16th Sep 2019, 5:52 pm	#12
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,940	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? They could just be a random selection of 'pointy things' that someone has acquired over the years and put in a sewing box for want of anywhere else to put them. It's the kind of thing that I might do. Some of them are quite attractive.

16th Sep 2019, 5:53 pm	#13
ThePillenwerfer Octode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,453	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? I would have said manicure implements on first glance but nut picks makes sense. __________________ "Experts are only good at one thing: explaining why something will not work!"

16th Sep 2019, 6:04 pm	#14
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? Mods permitting....For end shape comparison/ID only: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-n...-/292940471918 Lawrence.

16th Sep 2019, 7:12 pm	#15
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,684	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? Lawrence is right, and I have seen those pointy ends on nut crackers before and not twigged. I googled 'nut picks' and found several identical tools, so others definitely think they are for this as Dave first suggested (6). Also I think there being several (I didn't say, but I have four in a box that held six) suggests a communal activity and nut picking makes sense .... this activity seems to have fallen by the wayside! Christmas family meals when the nuts are brought out! Nothing else in that haul, although I did find a lovely hand drill brace on the same day, probably Victorian or earlier. The crab picks look rather different.

16th Sep 2019, 7:27 pm	#16
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? My Dad used to crack the Xmas nuts open with his teeth, including those really hard Almond ones, he used to take the top of his bottle of Guinness and Mums bottle of Babycham with his teeth as well.... Lawrence.

16th Sep 2019, 9:16 pm	#17
TowerRadio Hexode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 388	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? They could well be chiropodists implements,I use to sterilise modern day versions,the two items usually now combined.Les

16th Sep 2019, 11:41 pm	#18
ITAM805 Nonode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK. Posts: 2,172	Re: Unidentified tools - needle - craft work- surgery??? I've got 2 or 3 of them somewhere. They were in my old Mums knitting box amongst the needles, dont know if they were used in that craft though?