Mouldmakers' tools from Courtray, Belgium, a discovery of great value

Vormmakersgereedschap uit Kortrijk,
een vondst van onschatbare waarde

By Don Duco

Abstract: This article describes the discovery of six boxes of tools originating from the pipe factory A. De Bevere in Courtray, Belgium, that were packed in 1947. These specialized tools served for making pipe moulds at De Bevere from the 19th century till after the Second World War. The instruments were then acquired by a pipemaker from Andenne, Jean Dernoncourt, who never used the tools but kept them safely stored away for fourty years. The discovery unreveals lots of information on the mould makers techniques now no longer in existance.

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© Don Duco, Pijpenkabinet Foundation, Amsterdam - Holland, 1991.

Illustrations

1. Display of the mould makers' tools of De Bevere in the Pijpenkabinet in Leiden, including some items sesparately pohotographed. Belgium, Courtray, De Bevere firm, 1860-1900.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collection Pk 8896-8910

2. Handle of the oldest type with cilindrical body and rings. Courtray, De Bevere, 1880-1900.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8898a

3. Handle of later date with larger body but in lighter wood. Courtray, De Bevere, 1900-1920.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8907a

4. Handle of the more modern type partly covered with iron thread to make it stonger. Courtray, De Bevere, 1910-1930.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8900a

5. Metal shisels with circular and oval diametre. Courtray, De Bevere, 1880-1920.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8897a, 8896a

6. Stem scrapers with cilindrical grooved instrument. Courtray, De Bevere, 1900-1920.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8899a

7. Stem file with cushion shaped file part. Courtray, De Bevere, 1870-1900.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8902a

8. Bowl reamer in scraper version. Courtray, De Bevere, 1880-1900.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8918a

9. Bowl reamer in file version. Courtray, De Bevere, 1880-1900.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8905a

10. Bowl file called 'pissebed' wiht oval shaped file part. Courtray, De Bevere, 1910-1930.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8900a

11. Bowl file with globular file part. Courtray, De Bevere, 1915-1930.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8906a

12. Bowl rim file called 'directie file', circular disk shape roughened on the outside. Courtray, De Bevere, 1910-1930.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8908a

13. Heel file for the standard heel shape. Courtray, De Bevere, 1880-1900.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8904a

14. File for a special mouth piece with button end. Courtray, De Bevere, 1880-1900.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 8903a

15. Rough unpolished pipe stopper. Courtray, De Bevere, 1880-1900.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 7202a

16. Brass stamp to mark the pipe stem, cast on a steel mould. Courtray, De Bevere, 1880-1900.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 6812a

17. Steel matrix for making brass stamps to mark the pipe stem. Courtray, De Bevere, 1900-1920.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 17.365

18. Mark stamp with the letter D in pearl frame. Courtray, De Bevere, 1900-1925.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 6813a

19. Steel matrix for making the mark stamps for the pipe. Courtray, De Bevere, 1900-1920.
Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 17.364

Notes

1. E1985-10-04, E1987-04-03 Review of the acquisition.

2. Leiden, Pijpenkabinet Pk 7605. On the cover of the manufacturers' catalogue “Huis gesticht in 1800” and "Maison fondée en 1800".

3. City of Courtray, Municipal archives, Documents on the pipemakers' marks W and WS used by the pipemakers in Courtray, 1820-1830.

4. G01-01-1918.

5. Leiden, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 3071, 9494 and 9486.