Posted 10 years ago
hotairfan
(385 items)
This is a hand held rope maker, made in 1922. I have several rope makers, but, this is the first one that I found to be a hand held type.
Rope makers were an important tool to the farmers and homesteaders of early America. Several varieties that I have seen date back to the early 1800's.
All farms needed rope, and the materials that they used to make this rope varied from hemp, animal skin, sisel (probably misspelled?), or any other number of materials that they could twist into rope.
I've never seen a hand held rope maker before.
Who was it made by, what is the little eyelet on the outer edge?
Hi walksoftly, thank you for your interest in the rope maker. This hand held rope maker was made by J.M. Cattoor Co. Pat.in 1922. The small eyelet on the head of the unit is to switch the rotation the hooks from clockwise to counter clockwise. As far as the hole in this eyelet, I have no idea. If it has a purpose, I would like to find out myself. Maybe another collector has the answer, and they could let us know.
I bought it at an antique mall where a tool dealer had it hanging on a nail. I bought several interesting pieces from this dealer. He told me that it was quite a rare rope maker and only seen one other in his career.
Thanks again for your interest.......... hotairfan
Well that is a cool little gadget, the only one that I've seen was a crude wooden one mounted permanently on a board in a barn.
I looked up the patent & the eyelet should have a spring on it, you can find the patent here:
http://www.google.de/patents/US1430519
thanks walksoftly for the patent info. ........... hotairfan
My pleasure!
I haven't seen that one before - pretty cool. Hhaving the hooks so close together limits the length you could make imho.
In the UK, at Gloucester Docks Museum, Gloucester they had sailors make rope for the Tourists and you could join in. A Rope maker would walk miles for long ropes.
Cool tool ;-)