SHOE LASTS, PAIR
1890 - 1940Pair of wooden shoe lasts, left and right.
Hole at the heel end and 'W' incised into top surface.
Square toed.
Wooden shoe lasts were traditionally used by shoemakers to mould and shape leather shoes before the advent of modern shoe-making machines. They could also be used to support leather shoes while not being worn.
The hole is assumed to serve the purpose of enabling the matching left and right pair to be tied together when not in use.
'W' could possibly mean 'wide', but this has yet to be confirmed.
Details
Details
W cut into top of both
Age range based on asymmetric curves present (designed for left and right feet) placing them after the mid-1800s and also the wear and patina present being typical of early 20th century workshop tools. During the mid-20th century cobblers shifted away from using solid hardwood forms to high-density plastics and modern metal alloys.
Other items from Shire of Toodyay
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TOBACCO BOX SET
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TOBACCO TIN, WHITE OAK
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TOBACCO TIN, LUCKY HIT
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TOBACCO TIN, WILD WOODBINE
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BUTTONHOOK
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SHOE ANVIL, TWO PRONG
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SHOE ANVIL, SINGLE
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HERBERT; CHARLOTTE & ESTHER FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH
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INVITATION, ROYAL VISIT TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA JULY 1901
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THE AUSTRALIAN HOUSEHOLD GUIDE
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SET OF TEXT BOOKS, INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY COURSE
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MRS. MARY ANN TWINE
