Niddy-Noddy

Object/Artifact

-

Windham Textile and History Museum

Niddy-Noddy.: The image shows a wooden tool known as a niddy-noddy, displayed inside a glass case at a museum. The niddy-noddy, dating back to the 19th century, is a simple, handcrafted device used traditionally for winding yarn into skeins. This particular tool features a long central shaft with perpendicular crossbars on each end, characteristic of its functional design. It has a natural wood finish, showcasing the grain and texture. A small label in front of the tool identifies it as a gift from the American Textile and History Museum located in Lowell, Massachusetts. The exhibit emphasizes the cultural and historical significance of textile tools in everyday life during that period.
Niddy-Noddy.

The image shows a wooden tool known as a niddy-noddy, displayed inside a glass case at a museum. The niddy-noddy, dating back to the 19th century, is a simple, handcrafted device used traditionally for winding yarn into skeins. This particular tool features a long central shaft with perpendicular crossbars on each end, characteristic of its functional design. It has a natural wood finish, showcasing the grain and texture. A small label in front of the tool identifies it as a gift from the American Textile and History Museum located in Lowell, Massachusetts. The exhibit emphasizes the cultural and historical significance of textile tools in everyday life during that period.

Name/Title

Niddy-Noddy

Entry/Object ID

2017.01.14

Description

Niddy-noddy. Wood, mortise and tenoned. Round central shaft widens to rectangle at end. A cross-bar is affixed with mortise and tenon joint at each end of shaft, secured by two pins; cross-bars are set at right angles to one another; inside edge of cross-bar is straight and outside edge bow out at center. Three of four ends are upturned.

Use

Winding thread or yarn. Twice around is one yard.

Context

Preindustrial textile technology.

Collection

American Textile History Museum Collection

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown

Date made

circa 1820 - circa 1870

Time Period

19th Century

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Niddy-Noddy

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Winder, Yarn

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

1980.16.129

Dimensions

Height

18-1/2 in

Width

12-1/2 in

Material

Wood

Location

Location

Exhibit Room

Bev York Room

* Untyped Location

Main Museum Building

Category

Exhibit

Date

April 4, 2025

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Date Examined

Apr 4, 2025

Provenance

Provenance Detail

In 1980 the object was donated to the Merrimack Valley Textile Museum (later the American Textile History Museum) by Anne Flaten Pixley, along with a number of other textile-related items. In 2016 the ATHM closed, and in 2017 the ATHM donated the object to the Windham Textile and History Museum (the Mill Museum).

Created By

historian@millmuseum.org

Create Date

April 4, 2025

Updated By

historian@millmuseum.org

Update Date

April 4, 2025