Spinning wheel

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Spinning wheel

Entry/Object ID

2024.14.1

Description

Large spinning wheel, for wool or cotton with very plain turnings and a very common form of screw tension device typical of wheels produced in New England. It was probably originally fitted with a removable spindle holder in the form of what is known as a "bat's head".

Made/Created

Date made

1750 - 1850

Dimensions

Height

47-3/4 in

Width

5-1/2 in

Depth

2-1/2 in

Length

34-1/2 in

Diameter

47-3/4 in

Material

Maple, oak

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

This wheel is representative of a common form designed to spin wool and cotton. The turnings are plain and the screw tension device is typical of wheels produced in New England. Originally the wheel was probably fitted with a removeable spindle holder in the form of what is known as a “bat’s head.” The wheel appears in a photograph taken by Charles E. Moody c. 1900, by which point it was already in the collection of the York Institute.