Machine Shears Hand Piece
Maker and role
Burman and Sons Limited, Manufacturer
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2007.164
Maker
Description
Mechanical sheep shears hand piece with blades, storage bag and box.
1 - Electric shearing handpiece with detachable blade and thick black leather sheath over handle, tied in place by leather lacing. Flexible shaft at back with thick black leather fitting surrounding shaft. Stewart brand blade marked on reverse with Stewart 4 H - B and U.S.A.
2 - Cylindrical natural coloured canvas case with rivets and fibre rope drawstring at neck
3 - Box - small dark coloured metal oblong shaped tin box with painted writing on front and reverse of lid. Also lettering pressed in to lid.
4 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
5 - Blade - stated in casting at front is BURMAR
6 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
7 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
8 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
9 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
10 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
11 - Blade - stated in casting at front is BURMAR & SONS LTD MADE OF THE FINEST SHEFFIELD STEEL
12 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
13 - Blade - stated in casting at front is Cooper BRISTOW PAT 1143
14 - Blade - stated in casting at front is No. 11 MADE IN ENGLAND
1 - Electric shearing handpiece with detachable blade and thick black leather sheath over handle, tied in place by leather lacing. Flexible shaft at back with thick black leather fitting surrounding shaft. Stewart brand blade marked on reverse with Stewart 4 H - B and U.S.A.
2 - Cylindrical natural coloured canvas case with rivets and fibre rope drawstring at neck
3 - Box - small dark coloured metal oblong shaped tin box with painted writing on front and reverse of lid. Also lettering pressed in to lid.
4 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
5 - Blade - stated in casting at front is BURMAR
6 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
7 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
8 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
9 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
10 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
11 - Blade - stated in casting at front is BURMAR & SONS LTD MADE OF THE FINEST SHEFFIELD STEEL
12 - Blade - stated in casting at front is COOPER
13 - Blade - stated in casting at front is Cooper BRISTOW PAT 1143
14 - Blade - stated in casting at front is No. 11 MADE IN ENGLAND
Brief History
Shearing sheep using hand-powered clippers was a slow, back-breaking job. The invention of mechanised, electric shears such as these enabled larger flocks to be shorn by fewer men.
The names Cooper and Burman can be found on these shears.
William Cooper & Nephews was a UK firm established in 1843 to manufacture and sell sheep dips.
In 1880 it established agencies in Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania to sell Cooper products.
In 1893 John K. Stewart & Thomas J. Clark founded the Chicago Flexible Shaft Company (incorporated 1897) to manufacture flexible driveshafts and mechanical sheep shears. Stewart and Charles Timpson of William Cooper & Nephews partnered in founding the Cooper-Stewart Sheep Shearing Machinery Co in 1896 and sold the sheep shearing products produced by the Chicago Flexible Shaft Company through this new company.
In 1902 the Cooper Sheep Shearing Machinery Pty Ltd was set up in Sydney, Australia and sold Stewart shearing equipment. In 1920 the business became locally registered as William Cooper & Nephews (Aust) Pty Ltd.
Burman & Sons Ltd, of Ryland Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK manufactured Burman-Douglas steering gear as well as motorcycle gearboxes, horse clippers and barbers’ clippers.
The names Cooper and Burman can be found on these shears.
William Cooper & Nephews was a UK firm established in 1843 to manufacture and sell sheep dips.
In 1880 it established agencies in Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania to sell Cooper products.
In 1893 John K. Stewart & Thomas J. Clark founded the Chicago Flexible Shaft Company (incorporated 1897) to manufacture flexible driveshafts and mechanical sheep shears. Stewart and Charles Timpson of William Cooper & Nephews partnered in founding the Cooper-Stewart Sheep Shearing Machinery Co in 1896 and sold the sheep shearing products produced by the Chicago Flexible Shaft Company through this new company.
In 1902 the Cooper Sheep Shearing Machinery Pty Ltd was set up in Sydney, Australia and sold Stewart shearing equipment. In 1920 the business became locally registered as William Cooper & Nephews (Aust) Pty Ltd.
Burman & Sons Ltd, of Ryland Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK manufactured Burman-Douglas steering gear as well as motorcycle gearboxes, horse clippers and barbers’ clippers.
Marks
COOPER Impressed
BURMAN & SONS LTD / MADE OF THE FINEST SHEFFIELD STEEL Impressed
Cooper / BRISTOW / PAT. 1146 Impressed
No 11 / MADE IN ENGLAND Impressed
BURMAN & SONS LTD / MADE OF THE FINEST SHEFFIELD STEEL Impressed
Cooper / BRISTOW / PAT. 1146 Impressed
No 11 / MADE IN ENGLAND Impressed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Burman and Sons Limited. Machine Shears Hand Piece, 2007.164. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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