Wednesday, July 21, 2021

 


The History of Scissors
by
Molly Jebber
Amish Historical Romance Author







There are so many different kinds of scissors. A knife was used to cut hair before scissors were invented, and there was a need for something better which were scissors. After reading this, I had a new appreciation for scissors!


During the middle ages, scissors were made by heating a bar of iron or steel, then flattening and shaping its ends into blades on an anvil. The center of the bar was heated, bent to form the spring, then cooled and reheated for flexibility.


In 1500 BC, ancient Egyptians used a single piece of bronze metal made into two blades controlled by a metal strip. The strip separated the metal blades until they were squeezed.


The first known scissors closer to what we know as scissors appeared 3,000 to 4,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, which is between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers northwest of the bottleneck of Baghdad in Iraq. However, the Romans invented makeshift scissors of bronze or iron around 100 AD. Not as easy to use as what the ones we have the opportunity to buy today.


In 1761, Richard Hinchchliffe who lived in Cheney Square, London, England, made a more modern type of scissors. He used hardened and polished cast steel to make scissors, and he manufactured and mass produced them.


In 1893, pinking shears were invented and patented by Louise Austin of Whatcom, Washington. These scissors have notched or serrated blades that cut cloth to give it a wavy or zigzag edge.






In the early 1900's, scissors were hand-forged with made with elaborate and beautiful handles. They were made by hammering steel on indented surfaces known as bosses to form the blades. The rings in the handles were made by punching a hole in the steel and enlarging it with the pointed end of an anvil.





I hope you've enjoyed learning about scissors. Something we use almost daily. 

Do you have a favorite pair of scissors in your home? Comment below for a chance to win a copy of MARYANN'S HOPE. I'll notify the winner by email within three days after this post, so leave your email address in the comment section below!



For a list of Molly's Historical Amish Romance Books,
click here: http://www.mollyjebber.com


8 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting! My favorite pair of scissors depends on the job I need them to do. My sharpest pair for cloth, then anything but children's pairs for paper, then my kitchen shears for all kinds of other things! bcrug(at)twc(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Connie! Thank you for visiting me! Theresa is our winner today, but stay turned for future contests!!

      Delete
  2. Interesting bit of history. I do have a favorite pair of scissors. The tiny pair of stork scissors that I have from my mother, who has been in heaven for almost 20 years. Thanks for the giveaway.
    bettimace AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Betti, Thank you for visiting! Theresa won the contest today, but there will be future contests!!

      Delete
  3. I have different scissors for different things, that's what makes each one a favorite for there task.
    Theresa Norris
    weceno at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Teresa, You are the winner! I'll notify you by email about your copy of MARYANN'S HOPE!
      Thank you!

      Delete
  4. I have different pairs of scissors for different projects and The one pair I have was my late husbands that I have kept he trimmed his beard and mustache up with I use them to trim my bangs with! Thank you fro this amazing giveaway Sarahbaby601973(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Hi Sarah, Thank you visiting me here today!! Theresa is our winner today, but I'll have more contests in the future!!

    ReplyDelete