PRICKER PUNCH

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. This particular pricker punch was known as a strap pricker because of its pointed teeth instead of the usual chisel-shaped, slanting teeth. Name attributed by Dixon (1918) (p.265). Cylindrical handles squared toothed foot, 4 teeth. Punch used to mark stitches. Impressed mark on foot: "T. DIXON & SONS".

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