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| Hello,
I'm curious as to what these could be. A little background -my grandfather used to own a textile mill. Lots of odd bits of looms and other oddities in the basement. These were found all together, without any other sorts of tools. There were originally about 10 of them, but some were given away. They look like bone or ivory. Any ideas?
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Follow-Up Postings:
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| I would guess a bone awl...used in leather craft....can't think they would have much to do with a commercial operation. |
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| Probably more to do with weaving than with poking holes. Perhaps for blocking fabrics or pegging into shape before or after fulling. |
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| Could it be a more recent version of pin-beaters used in pushing down the logitudinal threads in weaving? |
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| They look like bone stilettos. These were used to to insert eyelets. |
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| Thank you for the wonderful help and suggestions. I think I'm leaning toward the bone stiletto or bodkin. Much appreciated! |
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| It's not a bodkin, because there is no way to use it to thread something. I think Calliope's analysis is the most apt. |
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| Thanks lindac. There are a few definitions of bodkin that are akin to the stiletto definition, no eye or threading as the primary function. Just a slender pointed tool used to make holes. |
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| It's not a bodkin, because there is no way to use it to thread something. I think Calliope's analysis is the most apt. |
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| You have been most helpful. I am not disagreeing with Calliope's analysis, just adding an additional term that I have discovered may be, in some cases, interchangeable. Main Entry: bod·kin 1 a : dagger, stiletto b : a sharp slender instrument for making holes in cloth c : an ornamental hairpin shaped like a stiletto |
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| I have another guess. Just a guess. Perhaps they are fids. A sailor's tool use for splicing rope. Old ones were often made from ivory or bone. The size looks right. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Fids
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| They look really cool, whatever they are. |
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