Research

The cigarette filler is a manual tool with which one can fill empty filter cigarettes with tobacco. It is an elongated (approx. 10 cm long) metal cylinder (approx. 1 cm in diameter) with an extendable tube that can be opened and filled with tobacco. Once filled it is closed and an empty cigarette case is slid over it. When the tube is pushed back into the cylinder - where there is a plate that acts as a tamper at the bottom end - the tobacco ends up in the cigarette case. More modern models are made of plastic. This tool is to be distinguished from a pill dispenser. [MOT]

This manual tool consists of a sturdy, rectangular, steel blade that has relatively short (approx. 2-3 mm) and wide (approx. 2-3 mm) rectangular teeth at the bottom and which is set in the top a hollow metal handle in cross section. It is used, among other things, by the tiler to spread glue. [MOT

This text can only be consulted in Dutch <https://www.mot.be/resource/Tool/774?lang=nl>

Chisel with one or more rows of pyramid-shaped pointed teeth, similar to the head of a bush hammer, for flattening natural stone. The stonecutter uses this chisel together with a metal carver's mallet to smooth uneven surfaces of natural stone, and can therefore work much more accurately than with a bush hammer. [MOT]

A polishing brush is used to polish parquet floors. This is a short-haired brush that is located under a metal, rectangular plate that is attached to a long (approx. 1.30 m), wooden or metal handle. When the wax-rubbed parquet floor is almost dry, it is rubbed on with a polishing brush until it is nice and shiny. [MOT]

This bit consists of a metal pipe (diameter approx. 0.5-1 cm) - sharp on one end and with a handle or a crank on the other end - to cut circles, hearts, etc. as decoration on the clogs. It is pushed onto the clog, never beaten like the leatherworker's punch. [MOT]

This text can only be consulted in Dutch <https://www.mot.be/resource/Tool/780?lang=nl>

This text can only be consulted in Dutch <https://www.mot.be/resource/Tool/769?lang=nl>

Piglets are usually neutered in their first three weeks of life. This is done in the following way: After an incision has been made in the scrotum with a scalpel - so that the testes are free to hang - the spermatic cord is twisted until it breaks. In young piglets this is done with the help of a few clamping pliers or even by hand. On piglets of several months old, the spermatic cord is already relatively large and castration is done with an emasculator (1). One jaw is rectangular (approx. 5 cm by 1 cm) with an elongated cutout that has grooves on one side and a sharp cut on the other, the other jaw has a concave cut. The jaws can be screwed on using a clamping screw. After the incision, the spermatic cord is caught with the jaws, which are squeezed tightly and tightened with the clamping screw; The forceps are turned a few times until the spermatic cord breaks and then they are squeezed completely closed so that the testicle is cut off. See also castration tongs. [MOT] (1) See BERTHELON.

The castration tongs (1) are relatively heavy (approx. 2-5 kg) tongs with long arms (approx. 30 cm) and a wide beak (approx. 8 cm) with strongly curved jaws, which are used to castrate bulls. If necessary, there is a U-shaped bracket on the underside of one of the arms that can be placed on the knee as support. The jaws of the forceps are placed successively behind both testicles - at the level of the spermatic cord - and the forceps are squeezed closed for about thirty seconds. After a few days, the scrotum begins to shrivel; the testicles shrink and die. See also the emasculator scissors. [MOT] (1) See BERTHELON.