The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-05
OLD SPINNING WHEELS.
OUR GRANDMoTHERS' METHOD OF
PREPARING WOOL fOR LOOMS.
Minute Description Of the Little Old ha-
chine which has been an Inspiration
n Poets and Composers--"IhInss Amt
Jest a. They Used to BE-"

jest a. lhcy tsen to pN'
Spinning-that is, home spinning--has
inst "a much gone out Of fashion in the
New England and eastern states as sui
phur matches, and for just the same
raason-thcre il no need Of either now
that something better has taken Their
place. There are, however, plenty o.
good wives who once on time were
learned practitioners in the donesuc
arts of spinning and dyeing, and 1t Is
from the lips Of one Of these that gam,
cred the following information, when
should imagine would be of interest to
your western hearers:
"The first thing, you see," sid this
good lady, sis to pick the WOOL no
faint either" she said, interrupting beg
self; "tho first thing is to wash and sheer !
the sheep. but IS that's done now Just as !
it always was, don't need tell you any
thing about it. When the wool WIS
/ sheared and washed we used to take 1t
and pull it all apart, getting out all the
fangles and burrs and dirt that was LETT
When it was all picked it had TO be
creased. and to do this We put plate
Icith lard on It in front Of us and heap
If the pickcd wool 10 the left side. We
then ribbed a bit Of lard on both palms,
tool, M 4 fe,k Of wool and worked II
between our hands until every bit was
creased. When there was enough WOOL
Creased the old man or one Of the farm
hands would take it right away 70 the
carding mips."
"When tic wool came back from The
cor1ers il was in bundles about two icet
long. and made up number OF tight
messed rolls the size Of my little hnger'
each roll Jest the length Of the bundle;
When we want 70 Use the wool we
take the bundle, give it shake, PICK out
roll and then begin spinning. doA
know as ever YOU We seen q wheel, Out 81
Won amt TIERS mine in the setting room,
and p'raDs 1 can best explain how we
worked It ef you'll come in there.
4 efout wooden horse with sloping
bodv foyrned the base Of the machine
Al other end was inserted an uprlShi,
, the one at the higher end stationary ana
supporting the Wheel that at the lower
a., end movable and holding the head
! tie vacant space between the two being
meed TO hold the rolls Just spoken OF. The
o wheel vas fully four feet In diameter
: ~ oak with rounded spokes springing
n from solid hub, and Joining lyI,
q two inches wide, IN when was sum
n grOove to receive tse driving panl
p This-a stout cord - passed louhu
+ sharply grOoved barrel IN ule 'helu
a Of two inches IN diameter, an,
cave to it, of course, an eAceeu
e inglv rapid revolution, which was SUI
- further added TO by second grooVe
4 wheel of four inches In diameter SET u
"a the same axis as the barrel driven by III
- main wheel The band over the secon
q wheel encircled still smaller one irCI
which the spindle sprang.. The splnoi
was Of iron, three inches long ana Wil
q half thread at the end; the bearing
were of plated corn husks, and "a
whole was attached to 4 tapering woode
nao fitting into q socket drilled INTO u
second or movable upright. by q woode
screen at its base the upright was worke
bocl, to give the driving band It's proP'
tension. 10 will be easily under5lOod,
t,,,st. chat single turn OF the BIZ WhS
would set the spindle revolving at such
rate that it would actually hum, ana
was 10 The humming Of such wheels ID
the old housewives Of lang syne spun y
thread from which stockings, carpel
covprlets and blankets were aitefWal
made bv their tireless hands.
~ emme see" said my delightful O
!. informant. If can't find speck OF VIC
he s1rnewhere 50 as | can show you jest nc
NV We worked" Then she went out on |
lb- search and soon came back with WI
ion she called "iieck."
IAN "'Taint good wool" che said, "but
me guess twill dc" -
Of Setting the wheel IN motion witil
the light touch OF her right hand, she Ok
red the end of the wool to the spindle vs.
ent the lett 1t caught at once, and walbl
ed, ouicklv backward and slightly IRON
ler- Wheel but always keeping within
lch eosv reach. a twisted thread seemed
al NV ont from between her practi'
ga. FINGER and thumb, even Throughout .
Ing Gns enough. if not to sow at least TO "a
not v-;fb When the thread grew long
the simmer RAPIDLY advapced toward
e ia srindle. carving hcl hand near
.erv heel n motion that instantly wound
lied the tIrc9I around 1.-THE spindle.
lila the operation was repeated, until Il
fur verv few minutes the wool was
1t OF hausted. -. ,
use "Alv fingers amt quite what |
the rsed 70 be- said the old lady, but
rka- sured her-as was the fact-that
and never seen any one spin better thr'
atcn The oldy lady smiled and went on
tess when this spindle IS full, you SC
ar a has to be wound off, and that IS dom
atch the reel over yonder'
: ex- The reel thus pointed out was sln
arrangement Of two cross pieces oil v
set so az to make four revolving al
and furnished at every end WIN
Gen. PsThe reel" said my informant
placod beside the SHINING, wheel
left undcr the spendlo here, the ban
T'o drown off. and by turning the reel
Iiio thread is wound off from the speil
100 from the reel it was made up into 81,
Gen and laid away for use. We've sui
. NC tLe old loom out in the carriage i
that nv mother used 70 weave on q
ornor cot SO far on with it as to be able Z
andi- out a blanket. Then the mills were
i, This at the falls and the loom was lad a
IN, W. We still used the wheel, however
., SIM spinning thread for knitting with
~ III fist rate thread it was, too''-Cor
4