Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

[Linkstrap]

I think this might just be the best example I've ever seen of the old adage.., "never say never!"

From the highlights page in the online catalog of an upcoming auction, http://www.gregmartinauctions.com/gm...og_knives.html

"Rare Crystal Palace Exhibition Multi-Blade IXL Folding Knife by George Wostenholm, Sheffield, with Faceted Blades and Tools, c. 1851"

[fahtz]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

I have several examples of Wostenholm and Sheffield knives and razors. I had thought Sheffield had created the "multi-tool" knife with the Farrier or hoof pick knife, but this takes the cake!

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

Hallo!

Hmmmmmm.
The remarkable state of preservation and condition of that piece is...
well, remarkable.

Bids start at $33,750.00.

Curt

[VaTrooper]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

I wonder what the original price was.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

"Rare Crystal Palace Exhibition Multi-Blade IXL Folding Knife by George Wostenholm, Sheffield, with Faceted Blades and Tools, c. 1851"

I'm guessing the part in bold is the key. The Crystal Palace exhibition was the place to show off anything and everything that could be manufactured, wild, wacky, or experimental.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

Ohhhkay... Who's gonna be the first to show-up with this in their kit at an event and justify its use?

"Lemme git mah jag-u-ar chaps on while I'm at it, too ya'll ..."

:p

It looked like it came from Wal-Mart, circa yesterday afternoon.

History shows us the darndest things to be true when we aren't even looking for them.

-Johnny Lloyd

[Lone Guard]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

Is that a phlebotomy blade I see?

[Gary of CA]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

phlebotomy blade

My thoughts exactly!

[Ian McWherter]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

I've read period descriptions of these multi bladed pocket knives before, but in conversations with other "experts" (cough), I've been told that they were literal fantasies. This is a memorable one from The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens which was serialized by Dickens from 1836-1837, the story itself is set in the year 1827:

"A butcher," repeated Mr. Roker, giving the nib of his pen a tap on the desk to cure it of a disinclination to mark. "What a thorough-paced goer he used to be sure-ly! You remember Tom Martin, Neddy?" said Roker, appealing to another man in the lodge, who was paring the mud off his shoes with a five-and-twenty bladed pocket knife.

[gilham]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

I am especially intrigued by what appears to be a hacksaw. If anyone knows what that is I would like to know.
Can anyone identify all the tools. So far I see a hoof pick,a cork screw, fleam,wrench,button hook(I Think it is a button hook),hacksaw?,and all the assorted blades and what appear to be awls . Can anyone identify the rest or correct me in any of my guesses.

[Mike Willey]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

I'd like to know what their documentation is that dates it to the period. Is there a patent mark, an advertisement, or what?

The style looks like early-20th century to me.


Mike Willey
late of the 49th Ohio and Coffee-coolers

[Ian McWherter]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

George Wostenholm is listed in the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations Official Descriptive and Illusrated Catalog, Vol. II pg. 607. Unfortunately the only description of his is:

Wostenholm, G., Washington Works, Sheffield-Manufacturer. A variety of cutlery.

There are however, some great descriptions of other maufacturer's works displayed, including these two from Ireland, pg. 591:

Bradford, R&W., 72 Patrick Street, Cork, Ireland-Manufacturers.
A knife with lock-joint, large blade, pen blade, button hook, cork screw, leather punch, gunpicker, twee-lancet, and turnscrew. Four-bladed knives, with pearl and stag handles. Three-bladed knives, with pearl and ivory handles.

Bradford, Samuel, Bagwell Street, Clonmel, Ireland-Manufacturer. Office knife, containing pen blade and paper cutter, pencil, and letter-weighing apparatus-Both invented by exhibitor.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Pocket Multi-tool circa 1851!

I'd like to know what their documentation is that dates it to the period. Is there a patent mark, an advertisement, or what?

The style looks like early-20th century to me.

As I posted upthread, I think the crucial thing is to consider the context. The knife was supposedly from the Crystal Palace exhibition. Not sure if just by my drawing attention to that, everyone is now nodding saying yeah, okay, I know what you mean, or if we need to be posting information on what the Crystal Palace was all about.

However, if the provenance of something like this knife indicates that it was exhibited there, I wouldn't necessarily be skeptical. It's the kind of information that would tend to cling to an object as it was displayed elsewhere over the years.

However, the Crystal Palace was not a place where things for ordinary manufacture were necessarily exhibited. It was for the rare, the unusual, the over-the-top. It was to show off the superiority of the industrial revolution and what wonderful things it could produce. So it would be a place to see odd things, prototypes, etc.

In that context, an outlandish pocketknife with every imaginable tool seems very typical. To extrapolate any further about the use or existence of such knives, well, no. The Crystal Palace was the Crystal Palace, and a world unto itself.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net