Awl, Sewing

Object Name:

Awl, Sewing

Object ID:

1977.055.01.088

Place of Origin:

West Medway, MA

Date:

1885-1914

Description:

Sewing awl. Steel blade with upward curve towards tip. Flattened oval cross-section at tip, round in middle and diamond-shaped tang that tapers to a point. One edge of tang is rough. Stamped "NEA&N.CO." From shoemaker's bench 1977.055.01.1.

Material:

Metal
Steel

Dimensions:

L-3.75 inches

Provenance:

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

New England Awl & Needle Co. of West Medway, MA was the plaintiff in a lawsuit March 6, 1897. They stated that they had been using a certain type of packaging for their awls since 1885.

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)