These hand shears were used for sheep shearing. They appear to be dual purpose sheep or topiary shears. They would have been used on a rural property in early Orbost. This item is an example of a hand tool used commonly before the widespread use of power tools.A pair of metal hand shears with a circular loop handle. On blade - Red Reaper Hand Shears 219 Ward & Payne 303 SHEFFIELD ENGLANDtool hand-shears

Hand shears needed to be very sharp and often had a leather strap or ‘driver’ which passed over the hand. Others had sheepskin bound around the grip. Blades had to be regularly sharpened on a grinding stone. Most hand shears were made in Sheffield, England, with various models produced offering wide or narrow blades, sharp or rounded points, and various grips and bows. The technique of Australian hand shearing gradually developed from the 1830s using the old English method of cutting the flank with hand shears in a series of circular cuts from the sheep’s neck to the tail. In the early 1930s the Ballarat School of Mines introduced a wide-ranging Wool Classing Course as jobs were in extremely short supply during the Great Depression. Metal handshears used for shearing sheep.ballarat school of mines, shearing, woolclassing, sheep

A spokeshave is a hand tool used to shape and smooth woods in woodworking jobs such as making cart wheel spokes, chair legs, paddles, bows, and arrows. The tool consists of a blade fixed into the body of the tool, which has a handle for each hand. Historically, a spokeshave was made with a wooden body and metal cutting blade. With industrialization metal bodies displaced wood in mass-produced tools. Being a small tool, spokeshaves are not suited to working large surfaces. The name spokeshave dates back to at least the 16th century, though the early history of the tool is not well documented. The name spokeshave reflects the early use of the tool by wheelwrights. The first spokeshaves were made of wood usually beech with steel blades, before being largely superseded by the development of metal-bodied spokeshaves in the latter half of the 19th century, though many woodworkers still use wooden spokeshaves. Due to their widespread use and versatility vintage wooden spokeshaves remain commonly available and relatively low in price. Spokeshaves consist of a blade or iron secured to the body or stock of the tool, which has two handles one for each hand. The bottom surface of the tool is called the sole. The blade can be removed for sharpening, and adjusted to vary the depth of the cut. An early design consisted of a metal blade with a pair of tangs to which the wooden handles were attached, as with a draw knife. Unlike a draw knife, but like a plane, spokeshaves typically have a sole plate that fixes the angle of the blade relative to the surface being worked. There are a wide variety of different types of spokeshave, suited to different trades and applications. A now vintage tool made by an Australian manufacture in NSW who specialised in making pruning shears, hacksaw frames and heel shaves under the Erskin brand name. This tool is now sought after by collectors even though it was probably made in the first quarter of the 20th century. It gives a snapshot of how carpenters work with wood by hand showcasing their craftsmanship. Hollow face Spokeshave, metal body with black enamel finish. Erskin stamped on frontflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, spokeshave, cabinet makers tools, wood working, cutting tool, shaping tool

Hand shearing shears made in England.Twin-bladed shears bolted twice in centre of the handle which is shaped in the form of an incomplete figure 8.[Stamped] Combination UTS Sheffieldshearing, hand shears, tools, wool, shears

Well known make of shears.Steel and iron hand shears with leather keeper. Brand "Combination U.T.S. Sheffield".Combination U.T.S. Sheffieldhand shears

Used for shearing sheep before shears were electrifiedHand shears for shearing sheep, sprung handle, has points missing on blades"Combination / T / U / S No.1 / Sheffield"shearing, farm work, agriculture, farm tools

Donated by Mrs A Terrill, the shears once belonged to Mr D A Terrill of "Thornbury Park" Via RutherglenHand shears used for shearing sheep"Made in England. Combination UTS No. 1 Sheffield"

These vintage steel sewing shears were used at 'Belle's Bonnets' Milliners in Flinders lane Melbourne in the 1950's. Mrs Belle Phillpi was the Proprietor. Mrs Jill Sebire's wedding head piece was made at Belle's Bonnets.A pair of heavy vintage large hand forged steel dressmaking, tailors shears. They are joined with a pivot point screw. One finger hole is larger than the other.steel, scissors, cutting tools, dressmaking equipment, dressmaking shears, dressmaking scissors

Used for the grooming of horses circa 1900Imported and sold by Holden and FrostTwo pivoted steel shears with wooden hand gripsA. Martin and Co Manufacturers on blade A. Martin Improvedclippers, equine, general

Metal hand shears as used in sheep shearingstreel, shears

Steel shears as were used in sheep shearingsupplied by Holden and FrostSteel hand shears as used in sheep shearingshears, steel

This item is representative of grinding stones used throughout Australia to enable people to maintain farm and domestic utensils.A large circular grinding stone with metal handle. It was used on a stand and also with water to shapen blades such as knives, axes and hand shears. The wheel is a large cirle of sandstone. These were common in the late 19th and early 20th Century. It would have been used on a wooden frame.domestic tools, household utensils

In 1999, a series of photos were taken of Arthritis Victoria member, Glenda Shalman, demonstrating arthritis-friendly gardening tools and aids, and how to use them. Some of these photos were used to accompany an article in the Arthritis Foundation of Victoria's quarterly magazine, Arthritis Update. In this photo, a woman sits at an outdoor table, tending to her potted plants with a pair of hand-held pruning shears. The shears have thick, wide handles. On the table, there are three more handheld gardening tools with thick handles. A similar photo appears on page 13 of the Vol 12 Issue 3, Spring 1999 edition of the Arthritis Foundation of Victoria's quarterly magazine, Arthritis Update.COL photo of a woman is sitting at a table in the garden. She is holding up a pair of gardening shears with thick handles. On the table, there are several potted plants and three more pairs of various types of small gardening tools, all with the same type of thick handles.[On a yellow sticky note, in blue ink] Glenda Shalman Gardeningarthritis foundation of victoria, afv, arthritic aids, gardening aids, gardening tools, pruning shears, living with arthritis, pain management, arthritis update, 1999

Metal Hand Shearsforests commission victoria (fcv), hand tools

Hand shears, metal with leather guardIndecipherable, rustedemerald, victoria, australia, farm and garden equipment, sheep

Sheep were shorn by hand in the Emerald district in the early 20th century.Shears with spring steel handle and hardened steel blades.emerald, victoria, australia, farm and garden equipment, farms, wool, cliff little