Interview with Edgar Quine about traditional furniture making in the Isle of Man
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Date(s): 16 March 1993
Scope & Content: Interview with Edgar Quine about techniques used in traditional furniture making and his joinery apprenticeship (late 1930s) on the Isle of Man. Interviewee talks about how to prepare and use red lead paint; how to oak grain wood; the different types of timber and their uses for making furniture, large wooden rollers (Moore’s Woollen Mills), cart wheels etc; use of different tools in furniture making e.g., three-legged table and cart building; making 2 or 3 person toilet seats; the different types of traditional furniture made for farms e.g., tables and dressers; making parts for threshing mills and ‘swingletrees’; carts painted different colours around the island; changes from 1900s onwards in types of furniture made by village joiners; furniture and carts built to be long lasting.
Edgar talks about how his father, a joiner, made his own furniture from the 1920s onwards. He talks about using Formica from the 1950s; use of elm for furniture, ‘swingletrees’ and coffins; use of oak for coffins and relative costs; joinery apprenticeship with his father (family business) from the age of 14; types of work and weekly wage as an apprentice; apprentice pieces, e.g., model of a newel post, staircase.
Language: English
Extent: 47 min. 2 sec.
Item name: cassette tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 0388
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH