Comb, Textile

Description

Worsted comb with cherry handle/holder, brass reinforcement bent, soldered, and screwed around base of handle through which 49 steel tines are inserted in two tiers. Inner tier of 24 tines are a bit shorter than the 25 in the outer tier. Handle has holes in end and in side, both brass fitted.

Notes

Hand-processed wool is either carded or combed. Short fiber wool is carded and spun into yarn for knitting, crocheting, and weft for weaving items such as blankets. Long fiber wool, worsted, is combed using a pair of wool combs. Because of the long fibers, worsted yarn is strong and has a much smoother surface than yarn produced from carded wool. Worsted is used for warps on looms and for weaving cloth that is to have a smooth surface. To use the worsted combs, the iron teeth on the combs are heated, with one comb mounted in a special bracket. The wool is combed from the mounted comb to the comb held in the hand. In the process the heat straightens the natural crimp (staple) of the wool fiber and unwanted dirt and short fibers are removed. The combs are then reversed and the process repeated until the wool is ready to spin. This comb is stamped with the date, "1851," and the letter "S." Another comb, [#1950.32.1] is stamped with the numeral "2." The two combs are probably a pair. While the significance of the "2" and letter "S" has yet to be determined, the date 1851 likely refers to the year the combs were made, in fact, a Center Family journal from Mount Lebanon [1] reports that Richard Bushnell Woodrow was "engaged about making some new combs for the sisters to comb with this season." Woodrow, known to be a wood worker and mechanic, is the likely make of this pair of worsted combs. Other items in the museum's collection, a second worsted comb (#1950.32.1), a beam augur stamped with the date "1851" and the initials "R.W.", and a shoemaker's bench are know to have been made by Woodrow. [1] Warren Chace and Ovando J. Hollister, "Center Family, [Mount Lebanon, NY,] Journal, [1848-1857]." NOC 8831: May 14, 1851, p. 139.