BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Spinning Do you recognise this wheel?

I bought a spinning wheel yesterday from a house clearance.
The man I bought it from thinks it could be German. I've since been told it is a castle wheel and possibly Irish.

Can anyone identify it?

I have googled everywhere but cannot see one the same.
I am planning on having lessons but want to know something about it first.

Pictures are on my blog...
BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

Dear Obsessed Sock Knitter,

What a beautiful wheel! To be historically accurate, it's an upright or vertical wheel, not a true castle wheel as true castle wheels have the bobbin & flyer unit located below the drive wheel. However these days, calling it a castle wheel is perfectly acceptable

Can't tell from your picture if the entire flyer unit is there but if not, then it would be worth having it repaired. IMHO.

I've checked the Cummer book on antique wheels and find nothing similar so can't shed any light on it's origins.

Llyn
Spinning Editor

Thank you. I have spent hours looking for it on the net but haven't found it yet.
I am going to be posting better pictures on my blog soon hoping someone will recognise it.

Close up pictures are now on my blog...

From the close up pics on your blog, your wheel appears to be in excellent condition. It is a double drive wheel and string does make an acceptable drive band.

The front maiden, that's the upright bit at the top front of the wheel where the bearing for the front of the flyer is, should be adjusted so that the flyer is level when you spin.

LOL over your comment about keeping the wheel turning in one direction We've all been here and done that! Practice treadling without trying to actually spin any thing. Try to keep it going one way while treadling as slowly as possible. You will get it - it just takes a bit of practice in the beginning.

And do keep us posted if you find any information on the history of this wonderful wheel.

The flyer is now level.
yehay I have learnt something.

I can't wait to spin now.
I have been in touch with a wheel repairer and she didn't know what it was either.

I am thinking now that it could possibly be from the Shetland Isles as they used similar wheels but maybe it is home made?

Will keep you posted if I find anything out. Thanks for your help.

Hmmmm.....it looks a lot different from what I know as a Shetland style wheel butI don't have a lot of experience with antique European wheels. Why not contact the museum in Lerwick or Jamieson & Smith(also in Lerwick) and see if they might have any information?

hi knitty witty woo, what a great find!! It looks as if it is hand-made, no fancy turnings, but then I love wheels with nice clean lines like this. And its OOAK, instead of mass produced, which makes it special, as the person who made it would have made it as a labour of love for someone they loved.
You do realise that this is the start of a serious addiction, hehe?
And no-one can argue with you because you are going something useful! And you will need to go shopping for supplies........
Cheers, Caroline who finds the easiest way to handle her fibre addiction is to give in to it!

A serious addiction? Obsession would perhaps be a better word

Anyway, I found this online:BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!