the ancient craft of pole lathe wood turning

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By Bridget Brennan 27th November 2012 The Ancient Craft of the Pole Lathe Woodturner

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The craft of woodturning dates back to Ancient Egypt and in particular Rameses III who is known to have invested heavily in specialist carpenters. It was brought to Europe from the Middle East by the ancient Greeks around the 7th century BC. Archaeological evidence for the craft in Ireland and Britain dates to the second century BC. The woodturners skills were an essential part of the material culture of both rural and urban communities up until the early 20th century. The importation of cheaper metal and earthenware goods from abroad lead to its decline in the 1930's.

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Page 1: The Ancient Craft of Pole Lathe Wood Turning

By

Bridget Brennan

27th November 2012

The Ancient Craft of the Pole Lathe Woodturner

Page 2: The Ancient Craft of Pole Lathe Wood Turning

Contents

List of Figures .................................................................................................................... III

List of Plates ....................................................................................................................... IV

Appendices ............................................................................................................................ I

The Ancient Craft of Wood Turning .................................................................................... 1

Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1

Definition ............................................................................................................................. 1

History of woodturning and its spread throughout Europe and Ireland. ............................. 1

Evidence of woodturning in Ireland and Irish examples. .................................................... 5

Overview of the technology .................................................................................................. 7

Component Parts ................................................................................................................ 10

Function and use ............................................................................................................... 11

Last of the Pole Lathe Woodturners in Ireland .................................................................. 11

Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 15

Bibliography ....................................................................................................................... 16

Appendix 1 ......................................................................................................................... 20

Appendix 2 ......................................................................................................................... 21

Appendix 3 ......................................................................................................................... 22

Page 3: The Ancient Craft of Pole Lathe Wood Turning

III

List of Figures

Figure 1: Graeco-Roman tomb of Petosiris at Tunael-Gebel circa 300 BC. (after Killen

2009)..................................................................................................................................... 1

Figure 2: Mycenean Wooden bowl 1200 BC (after Woodbury 1972, 463). .......................... 2

Figure 3: Etruscan Turned Bowl circa 700 BC from the Tomb of the Warrior, Corneto,

Italy (after Woodbury 1972, 464). ........................................................................................ 3

Figure 4: Celtic Turned Bowl 6th century BC (after Woodbury 1972, 465). ........................ 3

Figure 5: Turned bowl from David-gorod in Belarus (From Earwood and Malcachowska

1993, 543) ............................................................................................................................. 4

Figure 6: German Pole Lathe from 1395 ............................................................................. 4

Figure 7: Dutch Pole Lathe from 1650 ............................................................................... 4

Figure 8: The Altartate cauldron (after Mahr 1934, 14) ...................................................... 5

Figure 9: Irish Lord Feasting (after Derrike 1581). (www.movilleinishowen.com) ............ 7

Figure 10: Diagram of a pole lathe (after Williamson 1999) ............................................ 10

Figure 11: Tools used with Borrisokane lathe (after O'Riordan 1940, 29) ........................ 10

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IV

List of Plates

Plate 1: Turned ash bowl from Merrywell excavation (after NRA 2004, 2). ........................ 6

Plate 2: Model of Borrisokane lathe at the Museum of Country Life Turlough Co. Mayo.

Detail showing the mandrel with bowl attached (Brennan 2012). ........................................ 8

Plate 3: Model of the Borrisokane Pole Lathe (after O'Riordan 1940). ............................... 9

Plate 4: Joseph Hughes at his lathe (http://www.woodi.info). ............................................ 12

Plate 5: Tom Loftus pictured with his father's lathe (www.mycassidyscorner.net). ........... 12

Plate 6: Extract from Letter written by Sean O'Riordan in 1940 from the National Museum

of Ireland (See appendix A)............................................................................................... 13

Plate 7: A flute manufactured on the Loftus Pole Lathe (Brennan 2012). ........................ 13

Plate 8: Examples of domestic items manufactured on the Loftus Pole Lathe. Now in the

possession of the National Museum. (Brennan 1996). ....................................................... 13

Plate 9: A three legged stool turned on a pole lathe (after Rettie 2009). ............................ 14

Plate 10: Lathe turned chair. This style of chair dates back to the 11th century (after Rettie

2009)................................................................................................................................... 14

Plate 11: Reconstruction of the Loftus Pole Lathe at the ringfort, Craggaunowen

Prehistoric Park, Kilmurry, Quin, County Clare (Brennan 2013). .................................... 14

Page 5: The Ancient Craft of Pole Lathe Wood Turning

Appendices

APPENDIX 1: Reply from Sean O' Riordan to Adolf Mahr regarding Loftus Pole Lathe

30th September 1935 (National Museum of Ireland)\\342WE ........................................... 20

APPENDIX 2: Neanagh Guardian Article about the Loftus Pole Lathe 4th September

1999. ................................................................................................................................... 21

APPENDIX 3: From A Parish History of Borrisokane by Eamon Slevin. ........................ 22

Page 6: The Ancient Craft of Pole Lathe Wood Turning

1

The Ancient Craft of Wood Turning

Introduction

This assignment will discuss the ancient craft of woodturning and in particular pole lathe

woodturning. It will first of all define the terms 'woodturning' and 'pole lathe'. The history of

the ancient craft will be explored along with excavated examples of wooden artefacts that

show signs of being turned from both Ireland and Europe. An overview of the related

technology will be given together with the evolution of the lathe, its component parts,

functions and use.

Definition

Woodturning is the action of shaping wood with a lathe (Oxford dictionary 2012). The Pole

Lathe is an ancient form of this tool, operated by a treadle. The material is turned by a cord

passing round it and rotated back by the action of a springy pole or sapling attached to the top

end (Oxford dictionary 2012).

“The lathe is probably one of the oldest of the developed machine tools known in antiquity”

(Rijksbaron 1999, 739).

History of woodturning and its spread throughout Europe and Ireland.

Due to the fact that the lathe would

have been almost entirely made of

wood, excavated examples of an actual

machine are almost impossible to find

as wood tends only to survive in

waterlogged conditions (Edwards 2006,

75). However there is physical

evidence in the form of the artefacts

produced and turnery waste.

Furthermore there is pictorial and

documentary evidence to support not

only the existence of the lathe but also its evolution over a 3000 year period. The oldest

depiction of a woodturning lathe comes from a wall carving in an Egyptian tomb dating to

around 300 BC (fig 1.) (Killen 2009). It has been suggested that this particular lathe may

Figure 1: Graeco-Roman tomb of Petosiris at Tunael-Gebel circa 300 BC. (after Killen 2009).

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2

have been set up horizontally but is viewed vertically because the ancient Egyptians lacked

the ability to portray perspective in their artwork (MacGregor Historic Games 2012). It is

also thought that woodturning was practiced in ancient Egypt from the time of Ramases III as

illustrations of royal thrones with what appear to be wood turned legs have been found in

tombs of this period (Killen 2009). It would indicate that turning technology was introduced

by the pharaoh and the Harris papyrus records that he invested heavily in specialist carpenters

(ibid.).

It is likely that the lathe was introduced into Europe around the 7th century BC by the

Ancient Greeks most probably from wood producing areas in the Middle East (Hill 1996, 18).

Excavated mound tombs in Asia Minor dating to the 7th century BC produced two lathe

turned flat wooden dishes (Woodbury 1972, 463). A flat wooden bowl found at a pit grave in

Mycenae and dating 1100 to 1400 BC gives the appearance of having been lathe turned

because the bottom of the dish exhibits a hole that has been plugged (fig. 2) (ibid.).

There have been suggestions that this is proof the artefact had been mounted on a mandrel

and turned, though this remains controversial (ibid., 463). There is certainly documentary

evidence that the Greeks were aware of turning and this comes from Plato's Critias, written

around 360BC, in which he refers to Poseidon turning land and sea "as with a lathe" (Jowett

2009).

One of the oldest European artefacts bearing actual evidence of having been turned on a lathe

is an Etruscan wooden bowl from the Tomb of the Warrior, in Cornetto Italy, dating to

Figure 2: Mycenean Wooden bowl 1200 BC (after Woodbury 1972, 463).

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approximately 700BC (Woodbury 1972, 464). The bowl showed very clear evidence of

shaping on its outer surface (ibid.) (fig. 3).

By the 6th century BC the Etruscans

were not only turning wooden bowls but

also plates, ornaments, hairpins and

amber beads (ibid., 465). In the 7th

century BC wood turning was known

throughout Europe and the near East

(Rolt 1965, 18). In Uffing, Upper

Bavaria, preserved in an underground

bog, within a late Hallstat mound grave, was a large wooden bowl that had quite clearly been

lathe turned (fig.4) (Woodbury 1972, 465). Woodworking debris and artefacts found in six

wells at Tossal de les Basses in Spain revealed woodturning activity there by the 4th century

BC (Carrion and Rosser 2010, 755). Included among the various artefacts was a turned lid

made of boxwood and dating to the late Republican/Early Empire period (ibid., 761).

Woodturning had made its way to Britain and Ireland by the 2nd century BC. Spoiled and

unfinished pieces of turnery have been found in the peat of an Iron Age Celtic site in

Somerset, England known as the Glastonbury Lake Village, indicating a knowledge of the

expertise there by 100 BC (Rolt 1965, 18). Medieval examples in Europe include pieces of

turned waste and a turned bowl found at the medieval village of David-gorod in Belarus (fig.

5) (Earwood and Malcachowska 1993, 542). The waste came from the inside and the base of

a bowl (ibid.).

Figure 3: Etruscan Turned Bowl circa 700 BC from the Tomb of the Warrior, Corneto, Italy (after Woodbury 1972, 464).

Figure 4: Celtic Turned Bowl 6th century BC (after Woodbury 1972, 465).

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4

The ancient art of woodturning was recorded in the list of London crafts dating to 1422 and

during Henry VIII's reign the turner was 36th in a list of 60 guilds (Seaver 1985, 113).

Certainly by the 17th century the woodturner was considered to be an artisan and an account

of entry to the English Turner’s Company is given in "Wallingtons World: A puritan artisan

in seventeenth century London".

“He had been admitted to the Turner’s Company on the 18th May 1620 by payment of a

silver spoon. The majority entered through apprenticeship and the payment of a fine of 13

shillings and 4 pence.” (after Seaver 1985, 113).

The turner was expected to provide a "proof piece" by which he demonstrated his ability in

his trade (ibid.). This was usually a simple stool with turned legs (ibid., 114). As well as

documentary evidence there is also pictorial evidence of the craft being practiced in Europe

from the 14th century onwards (figs 6 and 7 below).

Figure 6: German Pole Lathe from 1395 (after Rolt 1965, 21).

Figure 7: Dutch Pole Lathe from 1650 (www.rushworth.com)

Figure 5: Turned bowl from David-gorod in Belarus (From Earwood and Malcachowska 1993, 543)

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Evidence of woodturning in Ireland and Irish examples.

As has been stated previously due to their organic composition wooden artefacts and

structures tend to survive only in waterlogged conditions and the bulk of wood turned

artefacts have a propensity to be found at crannog sites, bogs or on rare occasions ringfort

ditches (Edwards 2006, 75). Although there are no existing examples of pole lathes from

earlier periods in Ireland evidence that woodturning was taking place does appear to go back

to at least the early Iron Age. In 1933 a wooden cauldron was found during turf cutting at

Altartate, near Clones in County Monaghan which showed signs of having been turned

(O'Riordan 1940, 30). Archaeologist Sean O’Riordan pointed out that it was the manner of

the finish that determined its manufacture (ibid.).

The cauldron had been made of poplar with

projecting pieces forming staples that may have been

used as attachments for handles as in its bronze

counterpart (fig. 8) (ibid.). Further examples of

wood turned artefacts come from the 8th century AD.

Fragments of lathe turned bowls were found at

Nendrum a monastic site in County Antrim dating to

787AD (Brunning 2003, 419).

Wood was of vital importance in early Medieval

Ireland (Edwards 2006, 75). Most buildings and

other structures were of wood and most luxury items

were also made of wood (ibid.). From the early medieval Irish law tracts Crith Gablach

(Branched Purchase) there is a description of wealthy Irish farmers possessing a variety of

domestic utensils including, vats for boiling water, tubs, trays and mugs (ibid, 75). These

items were without doubt made of wood and although some may have been stave built others

would have been turned on a lathe (Edwards 2006, 76). Smaller items such as wide mouthed

bowls, beakers and platters used in food preparation or consumption more than likely were

turned on a pole lathe (ibid., 76).

Lathe waste including cores and thin discs with a hole in the centre have been excavated at

crannogs in Lagore and Moynagh Lough, County Meath (ibid., 76). At Lissue, an early

Figure 8: The Altartate cauldron (after Mahr

1934, 14)

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medieval ringfort in County Antrim, cone shaped lathe turning wasters were found in the

fosse along with six complete wooden vessels which demonstrated high levels of pole lathe

woodturning (Bersu, G. 1948, 132). In Waterford excavations pertaining to the Hiberno-

Norse period produced both lathe turned and stave built vessels (O'Sullivan et al. 2010, 132).

In the later medieval period finds of turned bowls and turning waste on sites throughout

Dublin indicate that the woodturner would have been one of the specialised craftsmen

working in Anglo Norman Ireland (O'Sullivan and Deevy 1993, 162). The bowls found dated

from the 12th and 13th century and consisted of mainly medium sized bowls (ibid.). There

were other objects found but it was uncertain what purpose these objects would have had

(ibid.). The species of tree used seems to have been ash which was a local tree (ibid.). Wood

turning waste found at High Street in Dublin indicated that a woodturning workshop was

operating in the locality (ibid.). Excavations at Merrywell, west of Dunshaughlin, during the

construction of the M3 motorway produced a 13th century turned wooden bowl (plate 1)

(NRA 2004, 2). Similarly in the City of Cork carved and lathe-turned wooden artefacts were

found within the remains of houses dating to the mid 12 century AD (Ní Loingsigh 2005).

Lathes were also used to manufacture other wooden objects such as the wheel hub from

Lough Faughan (Edwards 2006, 77).

Plate 1: Turned ash bowl from Merrywell excavation (after NRA 2004, 2).

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7

John Derricke’s book, "The Image of Irelande, with a Discoverie of Woodkarne", which

records Sir Henry Sidney's campaign against the Gaelic Irish in 1581, makes reference in one

verse to the "cunning turner". This term is used by him with regard to the wooden platters

from which the Gaelic chieftains ate their food (fig. 9) (Kinmonth 1993, 196).

"The platters are of wood

By cunning turners made

But not of pewter credit me

As in our English trade (Derricke 1581)"

(after Kinmonth, 1993, 196).

Overview of the technology

The earliest lathes were thought to be an evolution of the bow drill which was made of metal

and mounted on the end of a wooden shaft. It was held against the material to be worked by

a wooden cup on the end of the shaft (Marx 1946, 128). The string of the bow was wound

round the shaft and moved sharply to and fro (ibid.). Likewise, the first woodturning lathes,

called bow lathes, worked by rotating in alternating directions (Woods 2004, 44). A rope or

Figure 9: Irish Lord Feasting (after Derrike 1581). (www.movilleinishowen.com)

Page 13: The Ancient Craft of Pole Lathe Wood Turning

8

cord was wrapped around the piece of material to be worked and held there in coiled tension

by a bow that was fashioned from bending the branch of a sapling tree over the work (ibid.).

The part was then rotated manually (ibid.).

This description of the bow lathe technology is very similar to that of the pole lathe which

was also of a very simple construction. It consisted of a cylindrical piece of wood called a

mandrel which had flattened nails protruding from its end (plate 2) (Evening Herald 1935).

A rope was then hung over a sapling tree, usually an ash tree and securely tied to a post (ibid.,

1935). The size of the tree branch (pole) could be as much as fifteen feet long and the tension

was altered by using a gabhlóg or forked stick (ibid., 1935). The top of the rope was secured

to the pole then twisted around the mandrel with the lower end fixed to a treadle controlled

by the turner's foot (plate 3) (Evening Herald 1935).

Plate 2: Model of Borrisokane lathe at the Museum of Country Life Turlough Co. Mayo. Detail showing the mandrel with bowl attached (Brennan 2012).

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Unlike modern lathes which exact a rotational motion on the timber revealing it's whole

perimeter to the tool, the pole lathe would have turned the wood to be worked towards and

then away from the turner (Slevin 2004, 131). The advantage of the pole lathe over the

modern lathe was that a protrusion could be left on the item and later carved into a handle or

some kind of decoration (ibid.). The pole lathe was excellent for cutting the inside of an

object because its alternate motion prevented the area being cut from becoming choked with

wood shavings (O'Riordan 1940, 30).

The quality and diversity of the work that could be produced by the pole lathe was immense

(Evening Herald 1935). Owing to the peculiar back and forth actions of the machine the

woodturner could arrange the pressure on the treadle so that the cutting tool stopped at any

desired position on the wood (ibid.). The wood most favoured by turners was sycamore and

horse chestnut (Slevin 1993, 132). However a variety of other woods were also used

including alder, yew, hazel, poplar and beech (Edwards 2006, 76). The wood was felled and

cut into logs of appropriate size then cut according to girth and the cut lengths shaped roughly

with an adze or a chipping axe (ibid.). The rough out was then placed on the lathe secured by

a mandrel which was set into holes that had been drilled into the piece of wood to be worked.

This also freed the woodturner's hands in order for him to use his cutting tools (ibid.). The

outside of the vessel would have been formed first while the interior would have been

hollowed out and the waste wood shavings removed to reveal the finished artefact (ibid.).

Plate 3: Model of the Borrisokane Pole Lathe (after O'Riordan 1940).

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10

Component Parts

The pole lathe was very simple in design but extremely portable and could be very quickly

assembled at fairs and markets (Slevin 1994, 131). The pole part of the lathe was the branch

of a tree, the other component parts included a bench with headstocks, tailstocks (chucks),

mandrel and a treadle (ibid., 131) (See figure 10 below).

The headstocks could be adjustable or fixed. In the Irish version of the pole lathe only the tail

stock was adjustable while in English and Welsh versions both stocks were adjustable (ibid.,

131). The rope passed from the pole around the mandrel which was fastened to the piece of

wood to be turned by projecting pieces of iron (O'Riordan 1940, 31).

The tools used in conjunction with the lathe included cutting irons, mandrel, mallet and adze

(O'Riordan 1940, 29). The cutting irons came in different shapes and sizes in order to

produce a large variety of objects. The bent irons were used for inside work (fig.11).

Figure 10: Diagram of a pole lathe (after Williamson 1999) Figure 11: Tools used with Borrisokane lathe (after O'Riordan 1940, 29)

Page 16: The Ancient Craft of Pole Lathe Wood Turning

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Function and use

Throughout Ireland during the medieval and post medieval periods, rural communities would

have engaged the services of various tradesmen including the woodturner and his pole lathe

(Kinmonth 1993, 196). The woodturner would have used the pole lathe primarily to

manufacture domestic utensils and vessels but also vernacular furniture as rural communities

would not have been affluent enough to employ specialist furniture makers (Kinmonth 1993,

14). The woodturner provided everyday domestic objects such as trenchers, bowls, dishes and

noggins. Many of these utensils would have been sold at local markets and fairs. In Kerry the

craft of wood turning was remembered well into the 20th century (Kinmouth 1993, 196).

Timber mugs that could hold up to four cups of water were sold by the woodturners for 4

pence each (ibid.).

In Wales woodturners sold their wares in turnery shops as well as local fairs and markets

(Peate 1933, 183). In Llanarth, a small Welsh village, up to twelve turners sold their goods at

the local fair (ibid.). The market for wooden domestic items declined in Britain and Ireland

during the 1930's with the introduction and importation of cheap metal and earthenware

(ibid.). However unlike Ireland, in Wales turners adapted by making axe and mattock handles

for industrial districts (ibid.).

Last of the Pole Lathe Woodturners in Ireland

In Ireland the ancient craft of woodturning continued into the 20th century. Surviving

examples of actual pole lathes that remained in production through the 19th and early 20th

century include the Loftus Pole Lathe from Borrisokane in County Tipperary and the Hughes

Lathe from Banbrook, County Armagh (O'Riordan 1940, 31). The last people to practice the

craft were Joseph Hughes from County Armagh and James (Jim) Loftus of Borrisokane,

County Tipperary. Both men continued wood turning up until their deaths in the 1930’s

(plates 4 and 5) (ibid., 30).

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Joseph was originally from County Monaghan and he was primarily a bowl maker. He could

make as many as five bowls from just one cut log reducing wastage (Byrne 2010). Joseph

also had a particular way of finishing his bowls by treating the exteriors with an abrasive

material such as glass paper or a piece of broken glass (ibid.). This was in contrast to other

turners who would have finished their pieces after they had been turned (ibid.).

Plate 4: Joseph Hughes at his lathe (http://www.woodi.info).

Plate 5: Tom Loftus pictured with his father's lathe (www.mycassidyscorner.net).

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Jim Loftus learned the craft from his father Thomas Patrick Loftus and also inherited the pole

lathe from him (plate 6: An extract of a letter by Sean O'Riordan below also appendix).

Thomas was born in 1820 so the lathe dates back to at least the mid 19th century. Jim had a

thriving business for many years and sold his products all over Ireland producing domestic

items such as bowls, plates and butter churns (plate 8) ( (Hyland, 1999, 7). He also exported

to the USA (ibid.). He made not only domestic items but furniture such as chairs with turned

legs (figures 9 and 10), sideboards with turned pillars and musical instruments ( plate 7)

(ibid.). Musical instruments such as flutes and bagpipes would have been bored and drilled

on the lathe and the finishing would have been done by hand (plate 7) (Jones 2012).

Plate 6: Extract from Letter written by Sean O'Riordan in 1940 from the National Museum of Ireland (See appendix A).

Plate 8: Examples of domestic items manufactured on the Loftus Pole

Lathe. Now in the possession of the National Museum. (Brennan

1996).

Plate 7: A flute manufactured on the Loftus Pole Lathe (Brennan 2012).

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14

Plate 10: A three legged stool turned on a pole lathe (after

Rettie 2009).

Plate 9: Lathe turned chair. This style of chair

dates back to the 11th century (after Rettie 2009).

Plate 11: Reconstruction of the Loftus Pole Lathe at the ringfort, Craggaunowen Prehistoric Park, Kilmurry, Quin, County Clare (Brennan 2013).

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Conclusion

The craft of woodturning is an ancient craft dating back to at least the Bronze Age and in its

earliest form was practiced by the ancient Egyptians (Killen 2009). The lathe was introduced

into Europe probably by the Ancient Greeks and the craft of woodturning was widespread in

Europe by the 2nd century BC (Hill 1996, 18). In Ireland there are excavated examples of

wood turned artefacts dating as far back as the 2nd century BC. Archaeological evidence

dating to the Hiberno-Norse period has been discovered in places such as Waterford and

Cork. Evidence that the craft of woodturning continued on into the medieval and post

medieval period has been found in excavations of Anglo-Norman Dublin, indicating that

specialised craftsmen played a significant role in the local economy (O'Sullivan and Deevy

1993, 162).

In rural Ireland the craft of the woodturner was invaluable as poor rural communities would

not have been in a position to employ furniture makers so they would have relied on the

woodturner to manufacture not only their domestic utensils but also their furniture (Kinmonth

1993, 14). The craft was still practiced in Ireland until the early part of the 20th century

when the importation of cheaper metal and earthenware goods from abroad lead to its decline

in the 1930's (Peate 1933, 183). This coupled with the demise of Joseph Hughes and Jim

Loftus saw the trade all but disappear as a mass producing industry.

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Appendix 1

APPENDIX 1: Reply from Sean O' Riordan to Adolf Mahr regarding Loftus Pole Lathe 30th September 1935 (National Museum of Ireland)\\342WE

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Appendix 2

APPENDIX 2: Neanagh Guardian Article about the Loftus Pole Lathe 4th September 1999.

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Appendix 3

APPENDIX 3: From A Parish History of Borrisokane by Eamon Slevin.