Instructions
Category
Manuscripts and documents
Date
Unknown
Materials
Paper
Measurements
178 x 113 mm
Collection
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
NT 39623.6.3
Summary
A piece of paper with handwritten instructions on both sides in black ink with additions in pencil reading; P.S / I think the best thing / to do with the chest / is to apply beeswax / & turpentine. The / proportions are / 1lb of beeswax / softened in a basin / before the fire, then mixed / with 1 pint of / turpentine, apply it / cold with painter's brush / leave it to dry & then / polish with hard / nail brush - This will / gradually darken the / wood & allow of its / being kept clean by / rubbing like ordinary / furniture / Oakey flexible glass paper / No 1. Part of the contents of the LH section of the fitted tray (NT39623.3).
Provenance
Purchased from John Edwards in 2017, and brought back to Tyntesfield thanks to a generous anonymous donation. Antony Gibbs (1841-1907) purchased this lathe, grinding machine and the accompanying suite of accessories from Holtzapffel & Co in 1872. It was sold originally in 1852 to Count Dunin for £137.16.0. It was later returned to Holtzapffel & CO., refurbished and sold to Sir A Sterling in 1861. It was again returned to Holtzapffel, completely refurbished and resold in 1872 to Antony Gibbs Esq of Tyntesfield, Bristol for the sum of £220. On Antony’s death the lathe passed to his son Antony Hubert Gibbs of Clyst St George. In 1953 it was sold at an auction of the Gibbs estate and subsequently ended up in Scotland where it languished for the next 60 years, until it was acquired by John Edwards, an ornamental turner, who cleaned and overhauled it.