Spinning wheel

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Spinning wheel

Entry/Object ID

2024.13.1

Description

Flax wheel with a simple turned distaff. The wheel and table are of oak and the turned elements are probably maple. The relatively simply turned spindles and legs are characteristic of Shaker wheels. The turnings on the maidens and distaff are typical of Alfred Shaker wheels.

Made/Created

Date made

1809 - 1823

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Makers Mark

Location

Back end of table

Transcription

SR AL

Notes

This is the mark found on spinning wheels made in the Alfred Shaker Community between 1809-1823. The SR stands for Deacon Samuel Ring, the AL for Alfred. Ring was only deacon from 1809-1814, but the mark continued to be used on Alfred wheels for many years after his retirement. He was not a spinning wheel maker.

Material

Maple, oak

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

Sometimes referred to as a Saxony wheel, this type of spinning wheel was used to spin flax. The bobbin, flyer, and foot treadle are missing. It is branded "SR AL", for Samuel Ring, Alfred. Flax wheels such as this were branded with Ring’s initials for many years after his Trusteeship in Alfred had ended.