What is this

[Roger Feeley]

I was refinishing an early 20th century file cabinet and found this tucked in a corner. At first glance, it appears to be some sort of tapestry needle but I cant find it on the inter web.

It’s hard to see but there’s a small hole on the right end.
what look like the eyes are different. There are two pieces of metal bent to meet and overlap, sort of like crossed fingers.

497886

[Patty Hann]

I was refinishing an early 20th century file cabinet and found this tucked in a corner. At first glance, it appears to be some sort of tapestry needle but I cant find it on the inter web.

It’s hard to see but there’s a small hole on the right end.
what look like the eyes are different. There are two pieces of metal bent to meet and overlap, sort of like crossed fingers.

497886

It reminds me some kind of hand stitching tool, maybe for leather.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

It is the arrow that was shot at Mr. Singer (in his dream the night before he had his breakthrough with the invention of the sewing machine).

[Dave Anderson NH]

looks like a double ended sailmakers needle to me.

[Patty Hann]

It is the arrow that was shot at Mr. Singer (in his dream the night before he had his breakthrough with the invention of the sewing machine).

HA! There was only a hole at one end, not two holes.. (and I heard the story as him being attacked by spear bearing savages, with all the spears having a hole at the business end.)

[Mel Fulks]

looks like a double ended sailmakers needle to me.

I think Dave is right. Go to Google check-out

[John K Jordan]

…
what look like the eyes are different. There are two pieces of metal bent to meet and overlap, sort of like crossed fingers.
497886

If it had a handle on one end it would look very much like the tool used to patch a punctured tubeless automobile tire - put a length of fat sealing cord through the eye and push into the hole then pull out the tool and the sticky cord is left behind, the loose ends plugging the puncture.

But the point on the other end and no handle would eliminate that use since the tire tool requires considerable pushing/pulling force.

I guess I could see it as a hand-held sewing tool for some kind of coarse fabric that didn’t take a lot of pushing force. (or fishing nets or somesuch?) In sewing up a horse blanket yesterday - horses can tear up ANYTHING - there were some places I wished I could push in the “thread” from one side, feed a back “thread” through the loop, and pull out then tool and pull the “threads” tight.

(I say “threads” but I actually use a tough waxed cord, very strong, made for leather I think. It’s difficult sewing, even when first enlarging the hole where necessary with an awl. And hour and a half to save a $150 blanket? Worth the effort, especially with temps in the low 20s predicted the next few days! )

JKJ

[Tom M King]

Probably for whatever purpose these things are for:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234846278909?hash=item36adedd4fd:g:sFQAAOSwtrpjtO0 u&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8M6hx0xJxe%2FuX%2FwQZLyxpW1GS AVEkwaKJgq2RvK9Ne6lgLx7vqhpNHawotrsW7v%2Bae0wIh43h F7ID2KHndgFen4AgQ7G3gCkP9r9DXokQAYCJ6BDpGKRQ%2F57j ZqAeP%2FMhKkm0vGC32Czye2B%2Fx2Aq4%2FSNpMgOdO145tQ0 2F7bHsmrB%2BppcLFyWHw1AQeS45m0IPpHMRzknp2uvb9omti4 lA8qTgpI4wOfNO9NaDnTW5nM71EGZOEP2kk5mQsS%2B0pZQEDr 2u47mLIgslzPyj3MmBaMHaHsn2Pgnqlqj5JDzf8AnNful0ZUVH COezDIii%2Fkg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM5NzB0d5h


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV6nlu9D7ss

[Jim Koepke]

Given the length, 8-1/2", it might be for binding a stack of papers together.

jtk

[Roger Feeley]

Yep it’s a netting needle
https://trc-leiden.nl/trc-needles/tools/knotting-looping-and-netting/netting-needle
the left one.
I got the cabinet when I lived in Kansas City. I wonder where it got a netting needle.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

HA! There was only a hole at one end, not two holes.. (and I heard the story as him being attacked by spear bearing savages, with all the spears having a hole at the business end.)

It is a great and true account of the events that led to the invention of the sewing machine. It is a story my Mom loves to tell. She has the details in a book, I bet they are on the web too.

[John K Jordan]

Yep it’s a netting needle
https://trc-leiden.nl/trc-needles/tools/knotting-looping-and-netting/netting-needle
the left one.
I got the cabinet when I lived in Kansas City. I wonder where it got a netting needle.

Great sleuthing!

[Bruce Wrenn]

Yep it’s a netting needle
https://trc-leiden.nl/trc-needles/tools/knotting-looping-and-netting/netting-needle
the left one.
I got the cabinet when I lived in Kansas City. I wonder where it got a netting needle.Doesn't the LONGEST RIVER in the United States flow somewhere near KC? Maybe someone used it make nets for seining fish out of the river, or landing one of those monster sized cat fish.

[Roger Feeley]

Doesn't the LONGEST RIVER in the United States flow somewhere near KC? Maybe someone used it make nets for seining fish out of the river, or landing one of those monster sized cat fish.

true. I’ve never seen anyone fishing the rivers with a net but you never know. I heard that the monster catfish aren’t very good eating.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Commercial fishing on the Missouri River stoped in the early 1980's due to elevated levels of mercury in the fish. A few of the net fishermen are still alive. Hoop nets and trammel nets were used in our area. It was a very exciting to be present when a boat came in. It was even more exciting to get to go along. We learned to catch Flathead with live bait on Diddy poles. It is one of the few fish that I liked to eat. It is inadvisable to eat more than a helping to two of Missouri River fish per year.