Antique Spinning Wheel

Thank you so much Kronos! I really appreciate your help!

 

This type of spinning wheel can be used in spinning any kind of fiber (flax, wool, cotton). But if it was designed for flax spinning there should be a hole in the table/base, near the "mother-of-all" (the assemblage of support arms ("maidens"), flyer and bobbin), to hold a distaff which held the flax fibers:



https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_640675

This type of spinning wheel, where the spinster could be seated, is distinguished from the "great wheel", or "walking" wheel, which was used only for spinning wool:

https://oshawamuseum.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/artefacts-the-walking-wheel/

 

Thanks! NICE explanation!!! Clarifies it for me a bit!!! I have one of my Mom's 'walking' wheels, which she used only infrequently, in my living room!!!