Press, Metal

Description

A wooden metal press. The press has two distinct sections (a). The bottom section is a rectangular block with chamfer edges; at approximately half-way this section has a central rectangular cut out creating two "legs". Each "leg" has an L-shaped piece of metal attached so the bottom of the L is parallel to the floor. There is another metal piece attached to the side of a "leg"; one side of this metal piece is serrated. The upper section is barrel shaped. The top and bottom edges have iron hoops. Inside the barrel is a concave half-sphere with a rectangular through-hole. Atop the barrel sits a wooden lid (b). The lid has a circular through-hole and a half-sphere protrusion, cut so it fits within the barrel.

Notes

According to Brother Ricardo Belden, this was used to shape metal hoops for buckets. According to Sister Jennie Wells, the hollowed upper portion was used to shape leather washers for pump valves.