Story: Flax and flax working

Baling fibre (5th of 6)

Baling fibre

Once dried and bleached, flax fibre was usually put through a scutching machine, which made it finer and softer. Hanks of the fibre were then packed into bales like the one on the trolley.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Northwood Collection (PA-Group-00027)
Reference: G- 10553-1/1
Photograph by Arthur James Northwood

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Flax and flax working - The flax fibre industry: 1860s–1930s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10413/baling-fibre (accessed 17 April 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 24 Sep 2007