does anyone know what this is?

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03-12-2012, 03:25 PM

#21

carolynjo

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Posts: 6,430

I believe it is a bone knife, used to fold a signature of pages for book binding. When I took a book-making class in North Carolina, that was the type of knife we used.

03-12-2012, 03:53 PM

#22

Snooks

Senior Member

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: Any place I can sew

Posts: 434

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulettepoe

My friend inherited her grandmothers treadle machine. This was in one of the drawers. It is made of bone. has small holes in it. I wondered out loud if it might be a thread separater of some kind. Would appreciate any help. The machine was from about 1914-1920.

My Great Grandmother and both of my Grandmothers had them also - letter openers. Maybe your friends grandmother used hers when pulling the thread out from under the foot after re-threading the machine.

03-12-2012, 07:43 PM

#23

quilt for fun grandma G

Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Posts: 48

Hi I am no expert but it looks like part of ivory made for an envelop cutter-- quilt for fun Grandma G

03-13-2012, 02:02 PM

#24

sylviasmom

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Pueblo, Co

Posts: 663

My MIL gave me one so many years ago. I still have it. It's a letter opener. Use the straight edge.

03-13-2012, 02:10 PM

#25

mom-6

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Texas

Posts: 6,395

That definitely looks like a letter opener. Not sure why it would be in with the sewing stuff, but might have been used to cut folded tracing paper to the desired width. I know we used strips a couple inches wide for most of the marking we did with the tracing wheel and tracing paper.

03-13-2012, 03:08 PM

#26

M.I.Late

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Spring, Texas

Posts: 2,032

I'll bet she had it in her sewing stuff to push the corners out after sewing. I'd use it for that for sure...

03-13-2012, 07:41 PM

#27

lynn_z

Junior Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Portland Oregon

Posts: 292

Letter opener for sure...but those are almost always not bone. Stick a hot pin in it and see what happens. If it's plastic, it will melt.

03-13-2012, 08:03 PM

#28

Jan Rutherford

Senior Member

Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: Kent, WA

Posts: 758

Interesting comments from everyone... Any antiques shops near where you live? Maybe someone would be sewing items savy and be able to answer.. Post whatever you find out.... Its an interestng item, and I love history about sewing item.