Featured Seeking help to identify double flyer flax wheel

Aloha,

Previous research suggests this dates to right around 1800, and per family lore may have come to the Midwest with a family member from Norway around 1875. Other have stated it is very similar to examples from southwestern Connecticut, noting the cutout on the lower table as being unusual. I have looked it over pretty closely and found no initials or other identifiable marking beyond the decorative markings on the turned main support posts.

Thanks for looking, and for any info!

 

interesting spinning wheel !!

 

platt-8-b-double-flyer

 

I think you are missing some important pieces...

 

I can not confirm this........ but it sounds legit...

..Double-flyer upright spinning wheels were an early effort to increase the productivity of hand spinners at the end of the pre-industrial era. This type of spinning wheel is sometimes referred to as a “Gossip Wheel” because some thought that two people could spin together, but that was not the intent. It was designed for one person to work both flyers at the same time. Many examples have been found in a variety of styles, indicating many builders. Almost all were made in New England. Some of these spinning wheel makers READ MORE

 

There is indeed a hole in the middle rear of the top piece, although I have never seen the missing piece in my 70 years; and one of the top spinning parts was broken decades ago. What would those pieces be called? This example is indeed quite similar, although there are also very clear differences in shapes of certain pieces.

Thanks for the info!

 

seeing as how it's called a Double Flyer........ one of those spinning parts......well..



if you are looking for another one made the same week in the same facility....

I can't help with that ..

 

Spinning wheels are out of my wheelhouse... so to speak Having just looked at dozens of wheels, I can not contradict anything you already know. I agree that the cut-out is a bit unusual. What few I did find seemed to be European in origin so this would fit with your Norwegian origin story.