Historical information

Pinking shears or scissors were a valuable accessory for any professional or home dressmaker. Pinking shears have serrated edges and they leave trimmed fabric with a decorative edge as well as preventing the fabric from fraying. The words under the trademark "Marque Depose" mean trademark pending. These pinking shears were owned by Mrs. Betty Sheather of Gordon Street, Wodonga, Victoria. Betty was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Fletcher. Her father had many jobs including carriage cleaner with Victoria Railways at Wodonga and her mother was at House Creek State School No. 2266. Betty worked in Arnold's Store, the store of Costelloe & Smith as well as the Bethanga Park homestead as well as Drummonds at Walwa and the Hotel at Ebden. As a younger woman she lived with the Whan family at Stonleigh which was then a rope factory.Betty was a keen golfer and belonged to a club which played at the Wodonga Racecourse and was a member of the Bandiana Golf Club.

Significance

These shears were owned by a well-known member of Wodonga and were representative of dressmaking implements used in the mid 1900s.

Physical description

Large vintage Comete Pinking Shears / zigzag scissors produced in Italy from metal alloy.

Inscriptions & markings

On outer side of blade : NINCI COMETE 1948.
Beside central hinge in ring shape: COMETE/ITALY/NINCI/ MARQUE DEPOSE.