Name/Title
HandpiecesEntry/Object ID
3371Description
This is the second handpiece that was used in the original 1888 shearing at Dunlop Station on the Darling River. DG&M (A9) This handpiece was used by James Davidson who is, historically significant because he was believed to have shorn the first 100 grown sheep with a mechanical handpiece. (Note 105 Sheep had previousely shown in one day but they were easier shearing hoggets/lambs, by a Mr Dave Brown at Toganmain Station near Carrathool, NSW..) This one is in excellent condition with all its original, insides and parts with the leather gear cover, a unique handpiece in the history of mechanical shearing.
The tension nut, however is a more modern type and to be keeping with the period should be a smaller diameter and with four notches or slotts in the edge. These notches were engaged by a kind of key made out of old shear blades by MrHoward at Dunlop when it was found that the ghard work of unscrewing and screwing the tension nut was seriousely damaging Mr Charles Sheppard's hand. (Charlie Sheppard, originally a blade shearer, was one of the original team of shearers engaged to demonstrate the new shearing technology to pastoralists in the beginning of marketing efforts of the new technology of mechanical shears). The back joint is also of a later period. Tension spring not shown is merely a single-pointed sheck bit and the tension pin still has just a round end - it is not ball pointed.
Davidson ended up becoming a representative for Wolseley, promoting mechanical shearing. Later in his life, he was recruited by Lister to start Lister Shearing in England. Charlie Sheppard also went on to be one of the leading experts at Lister Shearing Co.Collection
Shearing
