7 Antique Williamsburg Spinning Wheel 1890s all wood last time Im going to list this great antique Start Price USD 699.00 Current Price USD 699.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 750.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, October 02, 2008 End Time Thursday, October 09, 2008 Location North Plainfield, NJ See more about '7 Antique Williamsburg Spinning Wheel 1890s all wood' Description Notice to those watching: This will be the last time I will list this great antique spinning wheel. It's a very elegant 3-legged antique Williamsburg style great wheel measure 7' long from front edge of wheel to back of back leg. It's 4.5 ' tall and the diameter of the wheel is 3' 7" wide. It's most distinctive feature is that it's construction is entirely made from wood. Outside of the axles and the spindle and the few tacks that are used to complete the out rim of the wheel itself, everything is made from wood that's shaped to fit perfectly. It's amazingly sturdy. Notice in the details how small wooden pegs are used to hold the spindle assembly to the table. And how small wooden pegs are used to hold the spoke to the outer rim. (fig 8). the two main masts are turned on a lathe. The following is an except from Wikipedia regarding the used of the Great Wheel: "Great wheel The great wheel was one of the earlier types of spinning wheel. The fiber is held in the left hand and the wheel slowly turned with the right. This wheel is thus good for using the long-draw spinning technique, which requires only one active hand most of the time, thus freeing a hand to turn the wheel. The great wheel is usually used to spin wool, and can only be used with fiber preparations that are suited to long-draw spinning. The great wheel is usually over 5 feet in height. The large drive wheel turns the much smaller spindle assembly, with the spindle revolving many times for each turn of the drive wheel. The yarn is spun at an angle off the tip of the spindle, and is then stored on the spindle. To begin spinning on a great wheel, first a leader (a length of waste yarn) is tied onto the base of the spindle and spiraled up to the tip. Then the spinner overlaps a handful of fiber with the leader, holding both gently together with the left hand, and begins to slowly turn the drive wheel clockwise with the right hand, while simultaneously walking backward and drawing the fiber in the left hand away from the spindle at an angle. The left hand must control the tension on the wool to produce an even result. Once a sufficient amount of yarn has been made, the spinner turns the wheel backward a short distance to unwind the spiral on the spindle, then turns it clockwise again, and winds the newly made yarn onto the spindle, finishing the wind-on by spiraling back out to the tip again to make another draw." I'd prefer a local pick-up only. It comes apart and could be shipped if you have a special handler. but I'd recommend careful hand-carrying. Attention curators: I believe this is a museum piece. Only very fine cracks in the wood that are natural to it's grain. it is in pristine condition and has been on display in my home for the last twenty years. time to downsize, and I hate to part with it. Please email me with any questions. I'd prefer payment with paypal. thanks for looking. This is the last chance. Place a Bid!