{"product_id":"antique-pine-chalk-board-before-paper-and-pencils-became-common","title":"Antique Pine Chalk Board Before Paper And Pencils Became Common","description":"\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eBefore paper and pencils became commonly used in schools, students used writing slates, portable blackboards like this one, for their schoolwork. Children wrote on them with a slate pencil, a piece of slate sharpened to a point that left a silvery mark that was easily erased. We've included in our pictures a copy of a drawing of a slate pencil topped with a sponge on the tip for erasures {Scientific American Magazine, 1890}. In rural areas, pupils brought a simple piece of slate to write and a rag to erase. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eAmerican educator William Alcott (1798-1859) visited over 20,000 schoolhouses and wrote, \"A blackboard in every school house is as indispensably necessary as a stove or fireplace.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis large portable blackboard was home made with a double-sided piece of slate framed with pine that has acquired a warm smooth brown patina over the many, many years.  Each corner is mortise and tenoned and reinforced with a tiny cut nail. When one of the corners got damaged, the thrifty, ingenious family added a piece of leather on each side, with copper wire and several nails to repair it. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThere is a hole at one end to hang the blackboard that was made with a hand drill...it's slightly rough and out-of-round.  Scratched into the wood by students are lots of letters and numbers, all faint but fun to try to decipher. Below the hanging hole on one side, there is a name etched into the slate, possibly E. Gilchurch?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis piece measures 10 inches high by 14 inches wide by 1\/2 inch thick and weighs 1 3\/4 pounds. It's in good shape, perfectly useable, with a chip out of the slate in one corner. It's a true American make-do. Not having the money or the availability to get a new slate, they \"made do\" with fixing the old one. It's a wonderful example of the popular saying \"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.\" Make-do's are very collectible and have a book all their own titled \"They Made Do\" by Jill Peterson.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis blackboard is a useable and decorative primitive antique, perfect for the kitchen, office or child's room. We'll enclose some sticks of white chalk so you can start using it right away. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e© \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/PrimpingYourHome.com\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ePrimpingYourHome.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003ePYH 5721\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Primping Your Home Antiques \u0026 Vintage Home Decor","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47834016186555,"sku":"5721","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/9101\/7147\/files\/5721-Antique_Chalk_Board__Blackboard__Writing_Slate_in_Boys_Hands-1536_x_1024.jpg?v=1779993702","url":"https:\/\/www.primpingyourhome.com\/products\/antique-pine-chalk-board-before-paper-and-pencils-became-common","provider":"Primping Your Home Antiques \u0026 Vintage Home Decor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}