Straw splitters were used by women workers in the cottage industry of straw plaiting. The plaited straws supplied the hat industry in Luton. The invention of the straw splitter meant that local women could earn more as it enabled them to produce more delicate plaits.
This wooden straw splitter is stamped J AUSTIN, perforated with 7 holes, 5 of which contain varied sizes of metal splitters for straw splitting.
Museum number HIWLH : T 26.5.2000.2
