Posted 11 years ago
RBHubbell
(1 item)
This tool is from our family's 140 year old cider mill.
It was used to carve numbers on the outside of barrels indicating the volume of cider in the barrel.
It fits nicely in the palm of the hand.
The point serves as a pivot, allowing the curved cutting edge to cut part or all of a circle. This allows one to carve numerals, e.g. an eight would be two circles, one atop the other. A three is likewise incised by cutting two half circles, one atop the other.
The second cutting edge folds out like a jackknife blade, and can be drawn across the oak stave in a straight line for numbers like 4 and 1. Using a combination of lines and curves, any number can be incised.
Does anyone know if the name of this tool, and if this was its original purpose?
