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Current Issue #60 - April 2008

In this issue we learn about a distinctive style of flyers found on spinning wheels made in New Zealand. We trace the travels of an elusive patent holder, and we revisit scutching mills and wonder about winders that might be spinning wheels.

Flyer-Frame Spinning Wheels in New Zealand
by Mary Knox

Mary Knox has been compiling information about spinning wheels built in New Zealand for her web site. She describes an unusual flyer-frame structure that originated with one wheel maker, but was later adapted by others.

Schofield Wheel

Schofield Wheel Flyer Frame

McDonald Wheel

Pipy Wendy by Philip Poore

More information about these makers and their wheels can be found on Mary Knox's web site, www.nzspinningwheels.info.

Timothy Dewey Brown Found!
by Sue Bacheller

Sue Bacheller, our super genealogical researcher, has solved the mystery of Timothy Dewey Brown, patent holder of the accordion-arm style of moving-spindle wheel. Although we knew he was in Oakland, California when he obtained his Canadian patent in 1883, we could not find him before or after that. Sue traced him from his birth in Ohio to his death in Oregon and the many other places that he lived in between.

Walker B. Walker Patent
Collection of F. Feldman-Wood

Timothy Dewy Brown Canadian Patent
Collection of F. Feldman-Wood

"Clipper Spinner" Accordion-Arm Wheel
Collection of F. Feldman-Wood

Bat's-Head Bobbin Winder or Spindle Wheel
by Michael Taylor

Having acquired a bobbin winder that has been converted to use as a spinning wheel, Michael Taylor started to look for other examples and for the reasons for these conversions.

Winder/Wheel
Collection of Michael Taylor

Detail of Winder/Wheel
Collection of Michael Taylor

Scutching Mills Revisited
by Alan Raistrick

When Alan Raistrick reported on scutching mills in Belgium, he thought they were from the mid-19th century. But Mark Ware's research in Pennsylvania found reference to one as early as 1828. With further study, Alan discovered that they were in fact in use much earlier.

An Unusual Drive Wheel
by Donna Lonergan

Donna Lonergan writes about a spinning wheel that was repaired by her husband, Paul. Its unusual drive wheel may provide a clue to the wheel's origin.

Spinning Wheel with Unusual Drive Wheel
Collection Cannington and Area Historical Society