H83.125.1

• agriculture

Sheep Shears. Description: Rolled steel, folded and forged. Triangular blades, handles are convex at outside edge, flatten to single circular spring at end. Blade is die stamped "Oak Leaf, made in U.S.A." and outline shape of oak leaf. Dimensions: 12" long, max. width 4" History: Used by donor's father, Petro Chelucci on Miller and Lux ranch at Los Banos. He migrated from Italy, sponsored by his brother who was a hired hand on the ranch. Pietro worked also as a hired hand from 1919-1927 on the ranch. He married in 1927, moved to Oakland, worked for the Key System railroad until 1945, then worked for Shuey-Diamond Creamery until his retirement. From the History Information Station: Sheep were brought to California in 1770 and bred on the missions mostly for wool. During the 1850s, sheep were imported by the thousands to feed hungry miners and during the 1860s, wool production rose to supply the needs of the Army in the Civil War. Due to changes in land use over the past century, sheep- herding has declined sharply although the herds still number over one million in North Central California counties. Henry Miller and Charles Lux, two early immigrants from Germany, became partners in one of California's great land empires. At its height, their "king- dom" covered about a million acres, including a hundred miles along the San Joaquin River and fifty miles on the Kern River.