A Box of Bobbins!

I had a very successful day Saturday out junking and picking!   

 At one of the garage sales I went to, 

I found 6 bobbins in a basket and asked the owner the price. 

She responded by saying 

"Oh I have a whole box of them are you interested?!"

Well YES, I almost screamed!  

I had to shut my mouth quickly as to not alarm her!

Here's what I bought....22 old bobbins and a spool!

These are larger than the ones I normally pick up!

Here's a photo of a more traditional looking bobbin

and how it fits in the shuttle that runs across the loom.

Below, is a loom from the Islay Woollen Mill 

in Scotland which began in 1883.

See the shuttles lined up on the left of the loom?

Filling the bobbins.

Thread had to be twisted from its early stage as cotton or wool, etc.

The machines would pull the yarn from the spools and twist it to make it a stronger thread, and at the same time, wind it on the bobbins for shuttle use or on alternate spools for the looms.

Spinning Mill Circa 1930 - 

John Holdsworth & Co - UK.

See the empty spools along the top of this spinning machine?

 

Modern Day Textile Mill - 
see all the spools of yarn/thread on the right?

Linen Weaving Loom from Warringston, Co. Down - Circa 1820.

During the 18th and early 19th centuries, 

this type of loom was used by weavers to produce rolls of linen.

The width of the loom, determined the width of the fabric.  

The loom was operated by foot pedals. 

Modern Day Computerized Carpet Weaving Loom

Three part brief documentaries on the hand loom

and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution 

and how it changed weaving and the loom!

Part One

 

Part Two

Part Three

 

The Lowell Girls

 

 Historical photos of child labor in the mills ...

with a wonderful bluegrass rendition of Babies in the Mills.

Every time I find a bobbin or spool out and about, 

I think of all those mill workers that worked the looms, 

and the spinning machines ~ hard labor, hard times!

Now, plastic has replaced wood 

for the bobbins and spools 

and the newest machines are computerized and air driven 

and don't use a shuttle anymore.

So I pay homage to our cottage home looms of the past and

the water driven looms of the industrial revolution and all

of the glorious remnants left behind for us to find!

So, go out there in search of textile history!

Live Authentically!

Martha