Connecticut Chair Wheel

Object/Artifact

-

Windham Textile and History Museum

Connecticut Chair Wheel: The image features an antique spinning wheel made of wood, prominently showcasing a bundle of raw flax fibers wrapped around its distaff, with a blue-patterned ribbon securing the fibers, all placed against a backdrop of a display shelf containing various historical artifacts, such as old irons and a wooden tool with metal comb-like spikes, collectively evoking a sense of nostalgia and craftsmanship from a bygone era, while the spinning wheel's intricate design remains a focal point, offering insight into traditional textile-making processes. once prevalent in
Connecticut Chair Wheel

The image features an antique spinning wheel made of wood, prominently showcasing a bundle of raw flax fibers wrapped around its distaff, with a blue-patterned ribbon securing the fibers, all placed against a backdrop of a display shelf containing various historical artifacts, such as old irons and a wooden tool with metal comb-like spikes, collectively evoking a sense of nostalgia and craftsmanship from a bygone era, while the spinning wheel's intricate design remains a focal point, offering insight into traditional textile-making processes. once prevalent in

Name/Title

Connecticut Chair Wheel

Entry/Object ID

2017.01.21

Description

Spinning wheel. Connecticut chair linen wheel. Horizontal, bobbin/flyer, two wheels, two treadles, chair frame. Chair frame has two high posts in back and two shorter posts in front, connected by two parallel stretchers on each side. Two parallel stretchers connect the back posts; two parallel horizontal rods are threaded through side stretchers, secured by wooden nuts. A fixed flat board between the front posts holds three small uprights. Each of the two treadles pivots on a metal rod between them. Each footman connects to a z-shaped drive wheel axle extension, which fits into the lower rear stretcher. The front wheel post fits through the lower horizontal rod. The drive wheel has six spokes; the rim is constructed in four sections. The wheel post for the accelerating wheel is set into the top horizontal rod. The accelerating wheel, attached to the wheel post and the upper back stretcher, has six spokes; the rim, with two grooves, is constructed in four sections, A solid disk, with a single groove, is attached to the accelerating wheel hb extension. A cloth belt connects the drive wheel to this disk. A doubled drive-band connects the accelerating wheel to the whorls. The mother-of-all is set between the front and back posts on the spinner's left. A tension knob on the front post adjusts its position. The bobbin/flyer is complete and connected by a doubled drive-band to the accelerating wheel. Conical-shaped distaff assembly set into upper horizontal rod. Turnings on legs.

Use

Spinning flax into linen.

Context

Joan Whittaker Cummer, "A Book of Spinning Wheels" (Portsmouth, NH: Peter E. Randall, 1993), 156-157: "These wheels, known as 'Connecticut Chair Wheels,' are an American invention of the early nineteenth century, supposedly first made in Connecticut by a chair maker. The double treadle and the action of the accelerating wheel allow a slow, easy treadling rhythm while spinning." Wheel no. 71.

Collection

American Textile History Museum Collection

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown

Date made

circa 1800 - circa 1850

Time Period

19th Century

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Wheel, Spinning

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Textile Manufacturing Equipment

Nomenclature Class

Textileworking T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 04: Tools & Equipment for Materials

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

ATHM

Other Number

1991.178.71

Dimensions

Height

29 in

Depth

19 in

Length

17-1/2 in

Material

Wood, Ferrous metal

Location

Location

Exhibit Room

Thread City Exhibit, Bev York Room

* Untyped Location

Main Museum Building

Category

Exhibit

Date

April 11, 2026

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Donated by American Textile History Museum in 2017.

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

April 11, 2026

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

April 11, 2026