Iron, Shoemaker's

Object Name:

Iron, Shoemaker's

Object ID:

1977.055.01.062

Creator:

Wiseman, Albine (1827-1915)

Place of Origin:

Rochester, NY

Date:

1884-1890

Description:

Edge iron. Steel head of the double iron type, each face is flat with straight edges that flare outward slightly at the top, tapering square tang. Top of head has guards on two edges, one with a crease at the base of the guard similar to a forepart iron, which was used to set the edge of the sole closest to the ground on the forepart of the shoe (from toe to instep). The other has a jigger step at the base of the guard similar to a jigger iron, which was used on the welt or upper edge of the sole. "A. WISEMAN / ROCHESTER NY" stamped on one side. From shoemaker's bench 1977.055.01.1.

Material:

Metal
Steel

Dimensions:

W-0.563 L-2.375 D-0.438 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:

Wiseman, Albine (1827-1915), 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)