51/100/1-3

Lace, bobbin winders consist of two parts - the arms which hold the skeins of thread and the wheel which turns the thread from the arms to the bobbin. This winder comes from Burford in Oxfordshire. It is made of mahogany and the four arms are each made in two pieces.

1 bobbin winder: [wood and string]; good condition

Citation in publication [H. J. Massingham, 'Country Relics' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939)] –'The blades are attached to the winder by a tongue of wood, long enough to give clearance space when they resolve, and the width of the skein decides which hole the peg, one to each blade, is to occupy. She took a bobbin from the small oaken bobbin-box; cylindrical opening opposite the solid wooden wheel. With her right hand she turned the handle and with the thumb of her left hand guided the thread, while the first finger under the bobbin controlled without pressure the passage of the thread from the blades to bobbin.' (p.158) [see also 51/101], MERL 'Catalogue index' card – “Bobbin winders consist of two parts, the arms which hold the skeins of thread and the wheel which turns the thread from arms to bobbin. A peg is inserted into each of the four arms of the cross and the skein of cotton is slipped over them. The width of the skein determines which hole in the arm the peg must occupy. The thread is then given a few turns round the bobbin, and the bobbin slipped into the cylindrical opening opposite the wheel. The right hand then turns the handle, while the left hand guides the thread and controls its passage from arms to bobbin. Mr. Massingham obtained the bobbin winder from Burford (Oxfordshire). It is made of mahogany and is very well constructed. The arms are made in two pieces and the stand measures 13 inches in length.”, MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/100 // NAME: BOBBIN WINDER // NEG NO.: 35/181 // STORAGE: '