S&SWM PR papers L834

L834

[Answered]

Southview
Salisbury
March 11 1892

Dear Sir

Knowing that you are interested in primitive sorts of tools, I have sent you by parcel post a Pig Butcher's "Scud", thinking it [insert] may [end insert] perhaps do for your museum at Farnham, (in case you may not already have a similar thing there).

These tools are used in the neighbourhood of Reading where I saw a number of them in a shop window last week  - and could not imagine their use till told that they were made there for removing the hair and "trotters" from the pigs, after being scalded.

The butchers in this neighbourhood, and very generally throughout Wilts have been in the habit of using for the same purpose the sharp edge of the foot of an upright candlestick, I have often seen them using this but had never seen the "scud" till last week, but probably you may be already acquainted with it.

Hoping you have recovered from your illness

I am Dear Sir
Yours very truly
James Brown

Genl Pitt Rivers

This is Add.9455vol3_p775/ 5

L836

Southview
Salisbury
March 14 1892

Dear Sir

Thank you for your letter. I quite think with you that the "scud" with the [illegible] edge added is simply a survival of the earlier use of the hoof alone. I now send you by parcel post an old worn out one, on which I can [illegible] observe [illegible] of the hairs still remaining round the rivets and you will find with it one of the old candlesticks which I have often seen used for a similar purpose.

This [insert] (the candlestick) [end insert] is very generally used throughout this part of Wiltshire and you would be surprised to see what an efficient tool it makes for removing the hair

I know there is still another kind of tool in use for the same work and if I come across one you shall have it to make the exhibit complete

Your museum is a most useful one. I only wish it was nearer here.

If I can chance to meet with any uncommon looking tool likely to be of use, I will always feel a pleasure in sending it to you

Yours very truly
James Brown

This is Add.9455vol3_p776/ 1 and Add.9455vol3_p776/ 2 respectively

L866

[Ansd July 3/ 92]

Southview
Salisbury
May 16. 1892

Dear Sir

I am sending you today by parcel post another tool formerly used in Wiltshire for sraping [sic] pigs, thinking you may perhaps like to place it with the old candlestick also used for the same purpose, and which I sent to you two or three weeks ago

The hook is of course for pulling off the "trotters"

Yours very truly
James Brown

Genl Pitt Rivers F.R.S. &c

This is Add.9455vol3_p833/ 3

L1040

Ansd Aug 28/94

Southview
Salisbury
Aug 25. 1894

Dear Sir,

I have this day sent you by parcel post an old lock from an old church door at Shrewton. There is not much to interest in it I fear, but such as it is, you are most welcome to it. The key seems to fit, but it appears to me not to be the original one, as I fancy it looks more modern than the lock.

I have seen today a fine old lock which was taken from the chief door of the Fisherton Goal when it was pulled down some years ago. it is a large lock somewhere about 15 in & 10 as far as I can remember, and must have cost a lot of money when new. The key has wards at either end and the whole thing is in good working order & it belongs to Mr Lloyd the ironmonger here and I see he has it marked at 30/- but I have no doubt he would sell it for much less than that. If you happen to want a lock for a large door or gate, this would be a good one for the purpose, and if you wished it, I should be pleased to get it at the lowest price.

I am Sir
Yours truly
James Brown

Genl Pitt Rivers F.R.S. &c

The first key is Add.9455vol3_p1013 /6

Transcribed for Rethinking Pitt-Rivers project by AP June 2011