Iron, Shoemaker's

Object Name:

Iron, Shoemaker's

Object ID:

1977.055.01.071

Creator:

Wiseman, Albine (1827-1915)

Place of Origin:

Rochester, NY

Date:

1888-1914

Description:

Edge iron. Steel head of the bevel iron type, each face is flat with straight edges that flare outward slightly at the top, tapering square tang. There are two edge guards on the top edge. One is short and thin, the other longer and thicker with a bevelled face. Each guard has a crease at the base. A bevel iron was used to bevel the top of the sole. The number "9" is stamped on one face, the words "[A. WI]SEMAN / ROCHESTER.N.Y." on another. From shoemaker's bench 1977.055.01.1.

Material:

Metal
Steel

Dimensions:

W-0.5 L-2.625 D-0.625 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)