Model of a Flax Brake, circa 1900

Producing linen yarn from the flax plant is a labor-intensive, time-consuming process. The hard outer coating of flax stems is removed by rotting, drying and breaking to extract the useable fibers within. A flax brake is the tool used to "break" or remove that outer coating. Bundles of flax stems are repeatedly pounded between the hinged upper and lower bars of the tool. This model represents one of the flax brake designs developed in America.