19th-Century Hog Scraper

thingiverse

Hog Scourers: Crafting Pig Skins since the Late Nineteenth Century This hog scourer boasts a storied past. It was employed to remove the bristles from the exterior of a butchered hog hide. Although the broad side of the hog scourer is difficult to discern in the scan, the surface bears four dull metal blades that function similarly to modern shaving razor blades. This particular hog scourer was manufactured in North Carolina and was likely crafted by hand as well as through machinery. It was probably utilized by a craftsman within the state during the 1800s. This unique object stands out due to its sturdiness and detailed craftsmanship. The handle was likely fashioned with a machine, possibly one designed for creating table or chair legs. Nonetheless, the joints on the object appear to have been meticulously placed by hand. The original hog scourer is currently part of the North Carolina Museum of History's collection (Accession # 1966.66.426). Methods and Instructions To create three-dimensional scans of this artifact, we employed two different technologies to produce distinct types of scans (both included in our object files). For our first set of scans, we utilized a repurposed Kinect sensor connected to a laptop using Skanect software. Initially, we endeavored to position the artifact on a Lazy Susan; however, due to its fragility, we had to improvise by having two individuals hold the laptop and sensor as they slowly moved around the object, enabling the sensor to capture data. For our second set of scans, we employed an iPad application called Structure Sensor to scan the artifact. In this method, a user attaches a Structure Sensor device to their iPad and carefully moves about the object while allowing the device to collect information and send it to the iPad's application, projecting a real-time point cloud as more points are collected. Goals When we embarked on scanning this artifact, our objective was to generate a three-dimensional model that could be freely shared online as an educational tool. Additionally, we aimed to provide the museum with scans that they might utilize on their website or, hypothetically, employ for 3D printing, creating interactive learning materials that would enable visitors to interactively explore and handle replicas of historical objects without risking damage to the original items or posing any risk to the visitors themselves. We also aspired to contribute to enhancing the accessibility, interactivity, and innovation associated with North Carolina history. Podcast Listen to our thought-provoking podcast discussion centered around this intriguing artifact. Secondary Sources Avirett, James. The Old Plantation: How We Lived In the Great House and Cabin Before the War, annotated and illustrated by Amazon Digital Services in 2011. Bishir, Catherine. Crafting Lives: African American Artisans in New Bern, North Carolina, 1770-1900 published through University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC: 2013. Available via North Carolina State University's library website. Furuseth, Owen J. Hog Farming in Eastern North Carolina in Southeastern Geographer, Vol. 41, Issue 1 (2001): 53-64. Accessible through North Carolina State University's library website. Learn NC. The Life of a Slave available online at http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-antebellum/5602. Accessed October 22, 2014. Mettler, John. Basic Butchering of Livestock and Game published through Storey Publishing in New York: 1986. Accessible via North Carolina State University's library website. Reidy, Joseph P. From Slavery to Agrarian Capitalism in the Cotton Plantation South: Central Georgia, 1800-1880 released by Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1992. Available online through North Carolina State University's library website. Weber, Tom. Stories in Stone: Memories of a Bygone Farming Community in North Carolina compiled by Umstead Coalition in Raleigh: 2011. Accessible via North Carolina State University's library website. US EPA Agricultural Information and General Info about Pork Production accessible at http://www.epa.gov/oecaagct/ag101/printpork.html.