Hetchel

Object/Artifact

-

Windham Textile and History Museum

Hetchel: The image shows a rectangular wooden tool with a handle and three circular holes at the end. Attached to the wooden base are numerous black metal spikes arranged in parallel rows, suggesting this object is a hetchel. The tool is resting on a wooden surface, possibly a table or workbench, with a light-colored textured carpet visible in the background. The wood's grain is prominent, and the overall appearance suggests the tool is old and has been well-used, with rustic features and visible wear.
Hetchel

The image shows a rectangular wooden tool with a handle and three circular holes at the end. Attached to the wooden base are numerous black metal spikes arranged in parallel rows, suggesting this object is a hetchel. The tool is resting on a wooden surface, possibly a table or workbench, with a light-colored textured carpet visible in the background. The wood's grain is prominent, and the overall appearance suggests the tool is old and has been well-used, with rustic features and visible wear.

Name/Title

Hetchel

Entry/Object ID

2017.01.19

Description

Hetchel (hackle). Iron pins (spikes) on oak board carved into the shape of a handle. Cross section and arrangement of pins: square tapering to a point; 12 rows of 4 pins and 11 rows of three pins in quincunx order.

Use

Used in making flax, to take off the coarse outer parts.

Collection

American Textile History Museum Collection

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Unknown

Attribution

G74

Role

Tool Maker

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Carved inscription

Location

Bottom of base.

Transcription

G74

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Hatchel

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Comb, Textile

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Textile Manufacturing Equipment

Nomenclature Class

Textileworking T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 04: Tools & Equipment for Materials

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

ATHM

Other Number

59.1.120

Dimensions

Height

5-1/4 in

Width

6-1/2 in

Length

18-1/4 in

Material

Oak, Iron

Location

Location

Exhibit Room

Thread City Exhibit, Bev York Room

* Untyped Location

Main Museum Building

Category

Permanent

Date

March 22, 2026

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Date Examined

Mar 22, 2026

Examined By

Eves, Jamie

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Donated to Mill Museum by American Textile History Museum in 2017. Donated to North Andover (MA) Historical Society in 1959 by Samuel Dale Stevens.

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

March 22, 2026

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

March 22, 2026