Wood's Ships Composition?

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:25 pm

This is an unusaul knife with a thin flexible spatula. It might be for spreading some sort of paste or goo (technical term) perhaps for filling cracks. I could be way-off track though. Anyone heard of this before? I have not had much luck with the search sofar.

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:53 pm

It was a tong depressor and not cleaned after each usage.

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:36 pm

S-K,
Very interesting.
Goins' has this:
Needham Bros. Sheffield England c 1860-1953
Sidney Street, Sheffield, England

He shows Repeat as a brand name for them. Not much to go on, but perhaps it will assist you in searching there in the UK.

It looks like a spatula in a doctor's knife. Perhaps a knife for a ship's Surgeon. but one would think that if that was the case, it would have a pill crusher bolster. So, I don't think that is the answer.

Let us know if you find out what it is for.

BTW, it is a nice looking knife.
Dale

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:54 pm

OK S-K...

Here is my WAG, for what it's worth. I believe Ship's Composition refers to treating the wood, that isn't painted, for protection. So, possibly an advertising slogan for a brand named Wood's? Continuing with more WAG...maybe for using exactly in the manner you described for working small areas or filling holes/cracks?

Here is something I found whilst exploring that may

...or may not

...support my WAG (s)...

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/USR ... _1897.html

Nice knife by the way.

Bill (reaching?)

sunburst · Post by **sunburst** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:39 pm

Let me acknowledge no ability in being able to help answer your question but that is one great looking knife.

Sunburst

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:48 pm

Thanks everyone

. I think El lobo is on the right track with the wood treatment theory. Thanks for the link. The blade is much more flexible than that on a traditional doctor's knife and, as you suggested Dale, it does not possess the other characteristics associated with Doctor's knives. Much appreciated.

s-k

Mossdancer · Post by **Mossdancer** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:46 pm

Hey Lobo,S-K:
If it were for working a caulk or dough composition would the blade be
flexible? The most of that stuff is of a pretty heavy consistency. Just a
thought.
wb

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:09 pm

from brl3 -

needham bros. repeat(wiebusch import) sheffield, eng. mfr. c1860-1900

it's in great shape for a 100+ year old knife.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:22 pm

Maybe it's for filleting?

Bill

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:07 am

jonet143 wrote:from brl3 -

needham bros. repeat(wiebusch import) sheffield, eng. mfr. c1860-1900

it's in great shape for a 100+ year old knife.

Thanks for the information jonet143. That would be great. According to my sources, Needham Bros were in business for about 100 years... 1850s-1950s. The seller claimed 1930s but I have no info at the moment to confirm/deny this.

s-k

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:16 am

hey s-k, i checked some other sources and came up with c1851-1940s

Mossdancer · Post by **Mossdancer** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:17 am

Something like this was called a pallette knife. Could it mean ship's composition in a painting.
wb

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:34 am

mmmmm... very interesting mossdancer

. Thanks for the alternative perspective.

s-k

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