While helping my mother-in-law clean out her garage, we came across a curious, old-looking tool mounted on a wooden board. None of us had ever seen anything like it before. It had a lever, a few metal hooks, and looked like it had once been attached to a wall or workbench. Naturally, the family group chat lit up with speculation—everything from a medieval torture device (thanks, Uncle Jerry) to some kind of antique sewing accessory.
After some digging—and a little help from the internet—we finally identified the mystery item: it’s a webbing stretcher.
What Is a Webbing Stretcher?
A webbing stretcher is a tool traditionally used in furniture upholstery. When reupholstering chairs, sofas, or other furniture, you often need to stretch thick jute or elastic webbing tightly across the frame to support the seat or back. Getting that webbing taut is crucial for comfort and durability, and that’s where this tool comes in.
There are a few different types of webbing stretchers. Some are handheld with spikes or teeth to grip the webbing, while others (like this one) are more heavy-duty and were mounted to a wall or bench for extra leverage. You’d hook the webbing onto one end, pull it tight using the lever, and then secure it with tacks or staples.
Why Did She Have It?
That’s the new mystery. None of us ever knew her to be into upholstery. Maybe it belonged to a relative before her, or maybe she picked it up at a garage sale thinking it “looked handy.” Either way, it’s a cool piece of history—and a reminder of how things were built to last.
So… Keep or Toss?
Tools like this aren’t widely used anymore, thanks to modern staplers and elastic webbing systems, but collectors and vintage tool enthusiasts still love them. If nothing else, it’s a neat conversation piece—and possibly a great wall hanger for a rustic-themed workshop or man cave.
Anyone else ever come across one of these? Or know of unusual tools hiding in your family’s garage?
