Wood's Ship's Composition?

[smiling-knife]

Has anyone heard of Wood's Ship's Composition, or something similar ? Nice knife with an unsually thin flexible spatula. Perhaps advertising the product or for use with the product or both. Not had much success searching for information on this so far. Needham Bros went out of business in the very early 1950s. All help greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jackknife]

Composition is a very, very, old name for a varnish like substance used to preserve wood on boats, that was not painted, but reffered to as bright work. There used to be something called Crocketts Composition used here in the U.S. maritime trades on work boats. For all practical effects, its like spar varnish. Brushed on unpainted wood every now and then, it gives the wood a golden hue, semi clear, so the coating has a visual depth to it. Nicely varnished wood does look nice on a boat, but modern fiberglass and aluminum have pretty much made boats less maintance demanding.

I can only speculate the thin blade is for the stirring up of a small can of varnish. Sheer speculation as I have never seen such a knife as you have there. Wood's must have been the brand name, as we used Crocketts on the bay.

But its a nice one, though. From your secret stash under Sheffield I suppose?

 

[smiling-knife]

Thanks very much for the info jackknife. That makes alot of sense. It looks like the spatula was used but the blades are like new. The seller claimed 1930s but I can not verify that. The spatula is thin and flexible not like the spatula on a doctor' knife.