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Your Story: File Cutting in Grenoside |
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File cutting stithies in the remains of a file-cutting workshop
© Grenoside & District Local History Group |
His father’s workshop, situated off Main Street just north of St Mark’s church, had four “stithies” or workstations. Their base was a solid block of sandstone from Grenoside quarries, slightly narrower at the edge facing the worker, so that his knees could rest at either side. In the centre of the metal-edged “anvil” which topped it was a recess filled with a block of lead (or “stock”) about 6 inches by 3 inches, and 1 ½ inches thick, protruding above the surface of the stone. It was on this that the files were cut, the relatively soft surface preventing damage to the first side when the file was turned over to cut the reverse side. There must have been V-shaped rests to hold three-sided blanks. The file blank was held immobile by straps, which the cutter steadied with his feet as if in stirrups. Most workshops had long low windows to throw light on the work area. After dark, paraffin lamps would be used, but skilled cutters worked almost automatically, not needing to look closely at what they were doing.
The Cutting
The cutting was done with a short broad chisel, working steadily down the length of the file, then turning the chisel through an angle of 90 degrees to complete the “teeth”. Rasps were cut differently, using a punch which cut each tooth individually. The hammer had a slightly curved handle, fixed near to one end of the head (as with a hatchet). The hammers varied in weight depending on the type of work, but could be as much as ten pounds. The worker held the handle near to the head, extending the thumb to steady it. It was not raised high above the block; the cutting power came from the weight of the hammer-head, not the strength of the arm. Aiming for a steady rhythm rather than speed helped to ensure precision.
Words: Walter Ellison
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