CLAMPS, x5

From workshop of Albany saddler, the late Arthur George Morrison b.1928 d.1989. The business was established by his grandfather, George, b.1859 (Scotland) d.1928 (Albany). George moved to Western Australia ca.1889 from South Australia. He was a qualified saddler and leatherworker and came to WA in response to an advertisement for a foreman cutter by Genders of Fremantle. After six months he moved to Southern Cross where he operated a business from a tent. By 1891 he had established a business in Albany as 'George Morrison & Co'. His son Walter Parlane (Parley), b.1895 (Albany) d.1974 (Albany) was trained in saddlery and leatherwork by his father and took over the business when his father died in 1928. He moved his premises more than twice, finally to a workshop adjacent to his home on Albany Highway. His only son Arthur George, b.1928 (Albany) took over the business when his father died in 1974. However, Arthur George was not trained as a saddler. He worked as an ambulance driver in Albany and carried on the business by doing saddlery repairs. Clamp consists of a pair of wooden jaws made from springy wood (oak) which has been steamed and bent to graceful curve. This method of making suggests a modern clamp ie mid-20th C? (p.242). Early clamps were home-made. The top edge grips the leather and are kept together by pressure between the knees as well as by their own spring They are used for holding the work near the seam when sewing. The The bottom end of the lengths of oak are screwed together. (c, d, e) have been lengthened by user with an additional piece of wood. A length of leather has been added to the outer top edge in the form of a long loop. This was probably slung over the user's body/neck to hold the clamps upright and in place when the user needed to bend over or reach for something.

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