Awl

Object Name:

Awl

Object ID:

1977.055.01.079

Date:

1888-1914

Description:

Pegging awl. Steel awl, 0.5" long, with diamond cross-section and flaring "shoulder". Hafted in turned wooden handle. Handle is bulbous at the bottom with a constricted neck and outward flare at the top. End has two brass ferrules, the top one narrower than the bottom. Handle is very worn around bulbous end, ferrules appear battered. From shoemaker's bench 1977.055.01.1.

Material:

Metal
Wood
Steel
Brass

Dimensions:

L-4.5 Dia-1.125 inches

Provenance:

Acquired in the vicinity of Durham, NH by the collector James Cowan Sawyer (1872-1944).

A shoe sole pattern (1977.55.1.96) bears the names Wiggin & Newhall who are listed in the 1895 Dover City Directory as boot and shoemakers. They were successors to Smith & Wiggin (1892-93 Dover City Directory), who were in turn successors of Walton R. Shaw (1890-91 and 1892-93 Dover City Directories). Wiggin was later in partnership with Dudley L. Furber who made shoes until 1914. Several shoe sole patterns (1977.55.1.95-.98) bear the initials H.G., possibly referring to Henry Glidden of Glidden and Bennett, boot and shoe manufacturers listed in the Dover City directories for 1888-1893.

Credit Line:

James Cowan Sawyer Collection, Gift of George F. Sawyer and Charles H. Sawyer

People:

Bennett, Ellery I. (1850-1917), Furber, Dudley L. (1848-1914), Glidden, Henry P. (1833-1916), Newhall, Frank L. (1868-1949), Smith, Nelson H. (1864-19 ? ), Wiggin, Charles F. (1868-1931), Sawyer, James Cowan (1872-1944), Sawyer, George F. (1902-1992), Sawyer, Charles H. (1906-2005)