DESCLOS COLLECTION
Barrel Making or Coopering was a good winter occupation
for early farmers as well as a year round occupation for others. Many
cooper shops were to be found in Hollis and some still survive. Many have
been used for a variety of purposes over their lifetimes.
One of the tools needed by the cooper was a plane, which would shape the
rounded top of the barrel both the inside and the outside. A good tool
is extremely valuable and Mr. Manning knew how to make these planes well.
He worked near the top of Lovejoy Hill and stamped his name into the plane.
Often he stamped the name of the person for whom he was making it as well.
Several people in Hollis have some of these old planes, which various
names imprinted either in the wood or the blade. These pictured are from
Manning planes owned and lent by Tim Desclos a Hollis restoration builder.
See also the series of coopering on Old Home Day and the description from
the Strawbery Banke website there of the process illustrated by the visiting
cooper from Strawbery Banke.
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