Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Chisel |
Donor |
Thomsen, Mary Lou |
Description |
This is a metal chisel head with the majority of the handle missing. The chisel starts with a piece of very rough, uneven wood extending from the metal neck of the chisel. The wood is very raw. It is connected to a brass fitting with a metal pin that has masking tape wrapped around it. At the opposite end of the cylinder is a decorative ring. This ring extends out and flattens into the blade of the chisel. The two outside edges are straight as is the end edge. The front and back surfaces are smooth but beveled at the edges. One side of the blade, near the neck, reads "T.H. WITHERBY / WARRANTED". |
Dimensions |
W-1.5 L-6.5 D-0.75 inches |
Made By |
T.H. WITHERBY |
Place Of Origin |
Likely USA/ |
Owned By |
Thomsen, Niels Christian/Thomsen, Christian |
Used By |
Thomsen, Niels Christian/Thomsen, Christian |
Material |
Steel/Wood/ |
Associated People |
Thomsen, Niels Christian Thomsen, Christian Thomsen, Thomas Thomsen, Bartholine Thompsen, Lawrence Reppein, Charles and Myrtle Thomsen, Mary Lou |
Search Terms |
Cooper Woodworking Thomsen, Niels Christian Thomsen, Christian Thomsen, Thomas Thomsen, Bartholine Thompsen, Lawrence Reppein, Charles and Myrtle Thomsen, Mary Lou Bramming Denmark New York City Crookston Minnesota Jackson Korean War Barrel making T.H. WITHERBY |
Given In Memory Of |
In Memory of Niels Christian Thomsen |
Provenance |
This is a remarkably detailed coopering collection. In its completeness and remarkably inclusive range, it is unique within our holdings. It also continually references the Danish heritage of its compiler, Niels Christian Thomsen. Niels Christian Thomsen is the late husband of the donor. Niels Christian Thomsen's father, Christian Thomsen, was a cooper in Denmark. Niels Christian Thomsen's grandfather, Thomas Thomsen, was also a cooper. Niels Christian Thomsen was born on December 5, 1932 in Bramming, Denmark. His parents were Christian Thomsen and Bartholine (Nee Johansen) Thomsen. Niels learned coopering at a young age from his father, who made barrels to ship butter to England. In his teen years, Niels attended night school to learn the technical aspects of barrelmaking. Visits from his Uncle Laurits Thomsen (Lawrence Thompson) encouraged him to come to the United States. Speaking very little English, he boarded a ship in 1951 that brought him to New York City. He then took a Greyhound to Crookston, Minnesota, where Charles and Myrtle Reppein, a Danish family, had invited him to stay. Niels worked for Mr. Reppein and his business associate at Crookston Cold Storage, learning the butchering trade and English. In March of 1954, Niels was drafted into the United States army and was awarded citizenship. While in the army, Niels requested he be transferred to Germany, so that he could visit Denmark on leaves, but the request was not granted. By the end of his training, the Korean War had also ended, and Niels spent six years in the reserves before being receiving an Honorable Discharge on March 23, 1961. After his discharge, Niels traveled on the S.S. United States to Denmark to visit his parents. Upon his return to the United States, Niels settled in Jackson, Minnesota. His uncle, a carpenter, owned Jackson Mill works and helped Niels secure employment as a bricklayer. He made a career of this for 36 years. His career took him to Florida, Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado and California. In the 1970s, Niels brought his cooper tools to America after the death of his parents. He took up coopering as a hobby, recreating barrels, churns, buckets and smaller items. On December 14, 1957, Niels married Mary Lou Starr. Niels and Mary Lou had two children, a stepson and a daughter. Niels passed away on February 2, 1994. |
Date Received by Museum |
07/02/2002 |
Images |
267\2002070096-7.JPG |
Collection |
Niels Christian Thomsen Collection |
Accession number |
2002.070 |
Object Identification Number |
2002.070.096 |