The slate ripper is used to pull out the nails that hold the slates to a roof.
It is a metal sheet of approx. 30-50 by 4-5 cm with lateral backward notches, one end of which is bent perpendicularly. A metal handle is forged at that end that ends in a hook.
The slater pushes the sheet under the broken slate, grabs the nail into a notch and pulls the tool towards him; sometimes he hits the right-angled part with his hammer. [MOT]