Thurmaston
Jonathan & Denise >
Let’s introduce you to a member of our production team you probably haven’t met before.
Thurmaston Spinning Wheel
This spinning wheel is a Thurmaston (19in wheel double-drive version) by James and Anne Williamson of Ashfordby, Leicestershire. It’s made with fine English oak, probably in the late 1980s or early ’90s. The design is excellent and the craftsmanship superb.
We bought it second hand in about 2006 for a fraction of the price of a new wheel, collecting it from a private address in Leicestershire – not far from where it was made. The three legs had become loose due to the wheel being kept too close to a heating radiator ; and part of the crank to which the connecting rod is attached had broken – damaged in a move of house, apparently. Having plenty of other spinning wheels in working order and no end of other more pressing work to do, this wheel didn’t get repaired until quite recently. In fact it has still never been used!
That, however, is about to change!
English
Basque
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Dutch
Finnish
French
German
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Polish
Portuguese
Scottish Gaelic
Spanish
Welsh
What a beautiful old girl of a wheel! Have you started using this incredible wheel yet? Its certainly beautimussiful!
Does it spin up finer yarns more efficiently? Or worsted weight? Will it be very eager to spin up any size yarns, perhaps even chunky and bulky weight yarns?!
I will be interested in seeing how you do with this wheel. The color of her is lovely and rich with beautiful tones of gold.
J > I’ve just now completed a bobbin full of grey Shetland. Tomorrow I’ll spin the other single, but what that will be is for a post in a few days when I have plied and washed them!
The Thurmaston has the feel of something truly hand-crafted, with a character unique to that particular wheel. That makes it a special pleasure to use. The control of tension is very fine and smooth, and the wheel responds well ; though the band I put on is too fine, and unable to grip the wood quickly enough to wind on once the bobbin reached 3/4 full. If I’ve a criticism of it, it’s that it is that the threading hook is not strong enough for the rather rather small orifice. Also – though not a criticism of the wheel, is that it is rather small for me : the orifice is below knee-height, and the treadle too small. I’m 6ft 3in tall. D is 5ft 2in, so it’ll be fine for her.
That is one gorgeous wheel! And I know it must be aching to be pressed into service again–you’re giving it new life.
Hope you use it soon!
J > Tuesday or Wednesday!
What a beautiful thing!
Ashfordby is ‘just down the road’ from us here
J > All their models of wheel were named after Leicestershire villages. They ceased making spinning wheels in 2008.
That’s intersting to read I will look them up and see what their others are called
Search for Timbertops or Timber Tops, Leicestereshire. Their main line of business was bespoke furniture.
Wow, that wheel is gorgeous. I hope it spins as well as it is beautiful.
J > It will be a few more days until I start using it : I have to finish an ongoing project on the Ashford Traditional.