Small Rug Beater

[RobNichols]

I had my usual Saturday morning potter around a house clearance shop in town that regularly has some interesting tools ... And spotted a tool I had no idea of what it was. Neither did the store owner.

It's quite heavy. I thought at first the metal discs on the sides were magnets, but that wasn't the case. I think they are just the ends of metal rods added for weight.

Fortunately some of the original packaging was present and that appears to answer the question "what is this tool".

A small rug beater. Though whether that means it's a small beater for rugs or a beater for small rugs, I'm not sure.

Does anyone recognise this tool? Have you witnessed small rugs being assaulted by a device like this?

If nothing else it highlights the interesting things to be found in a good house clearance store.

 

[Orraloon]

Was quite a common sight when I was a kid seeing some overworked housewife beating the bejazes out of a rug hung on the clothes line. Our mum would get us kids to do it on the promise of a bit of cake or something. I have not seen one like that however. Most of the shop bought ones were paddle shapes usually with holes. We made do with any suitable lump of wood.
Regards
John

 

[joshvegas]

I am 90% sure thats a beater for beating the weave down the weft while making a rug.

 

[RobNichols]

I must admit to wondering if it was a tool used in weaving. But to beat down the weave, wouldn't the outer tangs be the same width as the main ones.

 

[Amplidyne]

Dryad used to make tools for crafts at schools and so on back when I was at school.
I remember the scissors we had at school were by them.

Looks like they still do

https://www.dryadeducation.co.uk/

So yes, it'd be for beating the weave down I reckon.

 

[RobNichols]

It looks like Dryad made looms:

 

[joshvegas]

I don't think the width matters much the fibres aren't super tight.