70/304

This is a spoke calculator used by Reeves of Bratton Ironworks, Westbury, Wiltshire to calculate the angle of spokes on a wheel. The item came to museum as part of the Reeves collection.

1 spoke calculator: wood; iron

MERL Miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 10 March 2014 – The Reeves Collection was donated by R. & J. Reeves and Son Ltd. of Bratton Iron Works in Westbury, Wiltshire. The firm, which manufactured agricultural machinery, was well-established by 1849, and went into final receivership in 1970, when the Collection was donated to MERL. Bratton Iron Works was demolished in 1973. A detailed list of all of the objects in the Collection can be found in the accession file for 70/235. Records relating to the firm can be found in the MERL Archives, reference TR REE., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Problem - spoke calculator // Industries // Reeves // Description: This object consists of a wooden platform which supports an iron hoop. A cog wheel id placed in the centre of the platform and from this a screw threaded iron rod which ends in a nut. A wooden roller, which tapers at the ends is placed over the rod. Dimensions: 63cm square, Diameter of iron ring: 54cm, height of wooden roller 28cm // This object was used at the Bratton Iron Works. Used for calculating angle of spokes on a wheel’

Wood, Metal, iron

Reeves Ironworks (Corporate Body)