Expert: Barbara K. Acchino - 4/21/2004

Question
The object that I am inquiring about is made of about 1/4 inch wood.  The shape is similar to a distorted pair of scissors minus the finger slots, and is flat. The device is about 10 inches long.   The widest section of the wooden part is about 6 inches, and made of two seperate secions that glide back and forth on a notched runner. There are metal braces on the outside to hold the two sides together.   The narrow end (which resembles the closed blades of  scissors and are extentions of the larger end) is about 1 1/2 inches across.  At the top of the narrow end is a ring, evidently where yarn or other sewing material would be threaded through.  At the very end of the narrow end is what appears to be the needle, with an eye on top, and a sharp cutting blade underneath.  Both the yarn ring and the needle eye are quite large, and evidently not for fine sewing, but perhaps hemming weaving or leather work.  The tool is used by alternatly sliding each side, causing the needle to first extend, and then the blade to cut.

Would like to know for certain what type of sewing was done with this object.  A friend found it in her mother's attic and her mother says it had to be her own mother's or grandmother's, but had not idea what it was.

As my subject mentioned, the item was patented in 1881.

Answer
Melody - is there any way you can send me a digital picture?  If so, send to bacchino@twcny.rr.com.  If there is a patent number, you can search to find out what the intended use was.  Without a picture, I'm really not sure what you are describing.  Barb