Whale Bone Seam Rubber

Description:

Seam rubbers were part of a sail maker’s tool kit. They were used to smooth and flatten the seams of heavy canvas sailcloth, where two pieces were joined or the edges were hemmed before they were sewn. This unusually large example was probably carved from the panbone, part of a whale’s jaw.

Date Made: 1800s

Related Event: Expansion and Reform

Subject:

See more items in: Work and Industry: Fisheries, Cultures & Communities, Work, Industry & Manufacturing, Natural Resources, Transportation, On the Water exhibit, Art

Exhibition: On the Water

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Related Web Publication: http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater

Related Publication: On the Water online exhibition

Credit Line: Gift of Frank Westerberger

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: AG.025793Accession Number: 4957Catalog Number: 025793

Object Name: seam rubber

Physical Description: panbone (overall material)Measurements: overall: 4 1/8 in x 1 1/2 in x 5/8 in; 10.4775 cm x 3.81 cm x 1.5875 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-6ae4-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1342679

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