The finishing iron was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990.
Small shoemaker’s finishing iron with a short, cylindrical wooden handle. A small, round, brass-colored metal collar fits on top of the turned wood handle. Sitting on top of the collar is a flared, rectangular block that sits on top of a short neck. A small platform extends slightly from the top of the block. Attached to the bottom end of the handle is a long, black leather hanging tab with a small slit. The metal block is pitted and the wood is split near the collar.
No restrictions on access
No restrictions on use
overall: Height: 5.500 inches (13.97 cm) | Width: 0.875 inches (2.223 cm) | Depth: 0.750 inches (1.905 cm)
Shoemaker's finishing iron, similar to those used by Jewish forced laborers in the Łódź Ghetto in German-occupied Poland from May 1940 to summer 1944. Finishing irons were heated over a flame, then run around the edge of a shoe sole, creating a smooth and even appearance. The irons were often part of a set, and had different-sized notches on the end, which corresponded to the different thicknesses of shoe soles. Łódź was occupied by Germany a week after the September 1939 invasion of Poland. It was renamed Litzmannstadt, and in February 1940, the Jewish population of about 160,000 people was confined to a small, sealed-off ghetto. All residents had to work, and 85 percent of the ghetto population labored in nearly 100 factories. The major ones produced textiles, including uniforms for the German Army. Occupying authorities seized much of the specialized machinery from the Jewish population, forcing them to use hand techniques for production. Due to severe overcrowding and scarce food, disease and starvation were common. The Judenrat (Jewish Council) administered the ghetto for the Germans, and chairman Mordechai Rumkowski thought hard work and high output would preserve the ghetto. However, in January 1942, mass deportations to Chelmno killing center began; half the residents were murdered by the end of the year. In summer 1944, Łódź, the last ghetto in Poland, was destroyed and the remaining Jews were sent to Chelmno and Auschwitz-Birkenau killing centers.
Shoemaker's finishing iron of the type used in Łódź Ghetto