Craven curiosities

It was a late 19th century bull's head tin opener.

Bill and Gill Daker, of Skipton, said the tins were usually left with a very jagged open edge and Maurice Benson, of Cowling, said his grandmother used to have one.

Malcolm Taylor, of Bradley, added: "I saw one, which seemed quite old at the time, used in the late 1940s in a grocer's shop where it was used to open large tins containing food like corned beef which was then sliced for sale.

"The substantial fish-like handle appeared to be made of cast iron or steel into which was set the L-shaped blade. The vertical leg of the blade was pointed and used like a hammer to punch the initial hole in the edge of the tin lid. The horizontal part of the blade, which was sharpened on its upper edge, was inserted in the hole and 'walked' along with a see-saw action to cut off the lid."

Experts from Craven Museum and Gallery say this type of tin opener started to be used in the second half of the 19th century and was widespread by the end of the Victorian era.

They were commonly used in kitchen but also by troops in World War One, who used them to open their ration tins of bully beef and corned beef. They were produced up to the 1930s.

We are now inviting guesses about this week's mystery object.

Unfortunately readers cannot see the curiosities in situ as the museum - located in Skipton Town Hall - is closed for refurbishment until November 14.