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Current Issue #57 - July 2007

In this issue we will learn about spinning wheels with internal cranks and hand cranks. We will discover a little-known device for scutching flax and a small spindle wheel that can be converted to a bobbin winder. A few reports will bring us up to date on earlier topics.

Spinning on a Handful of Hand-Turned Flyer Wheels
by Pat Bownas

When you own more than 100 spinning wheels you can sort them to study different characteristics. Pat Bownas pulled out a group of wheels to compare on one topic but was persuaded by the wheels, her "ladies," to focus on another. She tells us what she learned about her spinning wheels that have a regular bobbin/flyer unit but no treadle, only a hand crank on the drive wheel.

Editoršs note: These names do not refer to styles of spinning wheels; rather they are the way Pat and Dave Bownas keep track of their more than 100 spinning wheels.

Lorelei

Internal Cranks and Dave Pennington, Spinning-Wheel Collector
by Florence Feldman-Wood

My visit with Dave and Beth Pennington in July 2006 was delightful but very brief. Since I only had time to study a very small number of spinning wheels in his extensive collection, I chose some unusual ones, spinning wheels with internal cranks, that we hadnšt featured in the newsletter before.

Photo #1 - A-frame wheel
Collection of Florence Feldman-Wood

Photo #2 - Detail of A-frame

Photo #3 - Wheel A and Wheel B
Collection of Dave Pennington

Photo #5 - Wheel with internal crank
Collection of Florence Feldman-Wood

A Converted Pennsylvania "Spooling Wheel"
by Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor recently acquired what looked like a small spindle wheel. But after consulting with Bill Leinbach, he discovered that it could be converted to a bobbin winder. He shows us how that works.

"Spooling wheel" set up as small spindle wheel
Collection of Michael Taylor

Set up as bobbin winder

Scutching Wheel, Scutching Machine, or Swingling Mill?
by Mark Ware

Mark Ware has had the opportunity to study and work with a rare device for scutching flax that is found in some parts of Pennsylvania. He explains how they work and how they helped speed up the very labor-intensive flax-preparation process.

Scutching wheel A
Courtesy Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County

Scutching wheel B
Courtesy Haupt Collection

Updates

Update reports feature more information about great wheels with brass bearings from Marsha Reeder and Ron Walter. Doug Elliott gives a thoughtful response to Tina Mericlešs inquiry about the skills needed to repair or restore spinning wheels. Also Lori Treloar sent more information about that unique spinning wheel from Saskatchewan.

Nelson County great wheel
Collection of Marsha Reeder