A small guillotine

In our collection at Market Lavington Museum, we have a photographer’s guillotine, used for cutting photographs.

It obviously dates from a previous era, being made of wood and calibrated in inches. Our records date it to the early 20th century. The cutting blade is metal, but has lost its handle.

We have had a succession of photographer’s businesses in Market Lavington, from late Victorian times until fairly recently. However, we have no evidence that this photo cutter was ever used here. The local connection seems to be that the donor lived here. She was the granddaughter of the maker, John Merrett of Trowbridge.

The back is stamped with Clement J. Smith, Pewsey, Wilts. Pewsey is a small town about ten miles north east of Market Lavington.