Posted 7 years ago
fortapache
(3433 items)
Haven't found an exact match for this but as things like these were hand made that is to be expected. This is for combing wool. I am thinking for after it has been removed from the sheep. It is a rather fearsome device.
It is 17 inches long with 4 1/2 inch long spikes. It sounds fearsome but the spikes are so close together they couldn't cause major injury. It is a bit like the bed of nails. If the spikes were 6 inches apart it would be much more painful.
The nails or spikes on this are blacksmith made and not machine made leading one to believe it is from the 1800s. The wood is in great shape though. But is does look great on the outside walls of my house. It is neatly tucked under the eaves so it should be fine.
Wow, it does look deadly, right?!? I wonder if they used it right before they would shear the wool off? I mean it kinda seems like that would make some sense to me for one, it would be probably impossible to do this after, what would it hold on to as you tried to pull the brush through the matted wool, you know what I mean? And can you used a clear coat of matte spray on it so that it survives the weather? I do that to my wind chimes whenever they look like they need it and it does a pretty good job of keeping those wooden parts whole and stable. ???
Very cool flax brush. I've seen these used for combing flax that's used for making linen.
jscotto363 is right here. This is a flax comb. There is no mating part that goes with it. It was used to remove the chafe on the flax fiber so it could be woven into linen. The courser flax that was combed was woven into material to make feed bags while the finely combed flax was used to make clothing
Here's some and an old engraving of two men fingering the flax :
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1185&bih=598&ei=D-l9WpH0HsXRjwTQ24aQCw&q=antique++flax+comb&oq=antique++flax+comb&gs_l=img.12..0.3057.16110.0.18695.9.8.0.1.1.0.127.828.4j4.8.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.9.835....0.KnisoNOmmKo#imgrc=AxJcSQ71rO_8QM:
Nice Flax Comb, fortapache! :^)
Thank you very much shareurpassion. Apparently it is for flax. I am be able to spray clear coat matte on it. Perhaps I'll move it inside but I am afraid I will bump into it. I have it in a spot where it is sheltered from sun and rain.
Thank you very much Scott. Apparently this is not for wool. Seems it would take a lot of combing to make a set of sheets.
Thank you very much hotairfan. 19th century?
Thank you very much Bill. Looks like some say they are from the 18th century. I wonder if they mean the 1800s, 1700s or are just mistaken.
Thank you
PhilDMorris
shareurpassion
Caperkid
valentino97
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jscott0363
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nutsabotas6
TassieDevil
hotairfan
officialfuel
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Manikan
Can flax get frightened?
Yes fortapache, here's a video about how to use a flax comb, and shows one from 1780s, and mid 1700s, its over 9mins. but gives a lot of information about it. It also has 2 more videos, on spinning the flax, and weaving it. :^D everything you thought you didn't need to know about flax . . . also used for hemp!
https://rooftopantiques.com/products/antique-flax-comb-hemp-heckling-wool
You could start your own business, instead of hanging on the wall! LOL :^)
Thank you very much Bill. I am all set to comb out flax soon as I finish the video. Looks like it was a bit older than I thought.
Thank you very much racer4four. It frightens me enough to keep it outside.
Thank you
racer4four
aura
Brunswick
mikelv85
neat carder!
And thank you very much ho2cultcha.
Thank you AnnaB.