Glove Stretcher: A 19th-century tool

Scientific Fact – History + Materials Science: 1. What is this tool? It’s called a Glove Stretcher. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, leather gloves were an essential part of formal attire for both men and women. The problem was that leather dries and shrinks, becoming very tight. 2. How does it work? It uses simple mechanics. You insert its pointed tip into the finger of the glove. You apply gentle pressure to stretch the leather and return it to its original shape. The metal stays cool, maintaining the stretched shape until the leather dries. The inscription “NEWARK N.J.” refers to Newark, New Jersey, USA. “THIMON & MANSEN” was a company that manufactured sewing tools from around 1880. 3. Could it be something else? Many people confuse it with a buttonhook, but a buttonhook has a small hook at its end for fastening buttons. This one has a pointed tip. Shoe