Identification of wooden Tool?

I’m not sure if this is a tool or not, but I thought I’d start here and see if anyone could help me.
Thank you so much!

 

It's a "shuttle', part of a machine loom, for weaving. I dunno how it worked but I've seen lots of them offered for sale from defunct factories in New England.

 

I don’t know how you guys have so much knowledge about this stuff? No matter how much I study and do research I still don’t get it! You all are amazing! Thank you so much!

 

A separate bobbin, or "pirn", with the thread wound onto it, fit into the shuttle and was held in place by the metal spring. The end of the thread went through the little porcelain lined hole on the side. The shuttle was used to insert the weft through the warp on the loom. (The warp are the horizontal threads stretched on the loom. Heddles are used to separate and raise groups of warp threads to create the "shed".) The shuttle could be pushed through the warp shed by hand, but for production weaving there was a mechanical system to slap the shuttle through. It would bang into a stop at each end of the pass, hence the protective metal ends. Also known as a "flying shuttle".

 

!!! And also ??? I got about two-fifths of that...

I DID know it is a shuttle!

 

2many's explanation visualised.

This is it with the bobbin:


Shuttle ready for weaving:


The heddles to alternate the threads:


Weaving:

 

With a bit of work, they make great sconce candle holders, too.

 

and you have to see them in action to really know why they're called flying shuttles....
I was in a mill room with over 110 modern machines..... had to wear ear protection too...

 

As though there aren't enough candle holders made from the old wooden spools.

 

That's funny. I just saw a pair at a sale last Saturday that weren't for sale. But, I like the look...at least on some of them!

 

You all are so helpful Thank You so much! You all are awesome!