Idly glancing at Ravelry around 4:30 this afternoon I spotted a post in the Bluestockings group proclaiming that there was a spinning wheel for sale for £80 in the window of the Red Cross shop on the High Street. As soon as I'd finished work I hared across town on my actual bike, checked it out, bought it, said "no thanks" to the three sacks of somewhat mangy fleece accompanying it, and hauled it off to the pub to meet the rest of the Bluestockings.
Back home (eventually - turns out I did miss my bus due to my watch having stopped, I thought the evening was going slowly) I engaged in a little detective work ("You know my methods Watson, apply them") and discovered that the wheel is a "Wee Peggy" made by John Rappard who made spinning wheels in New Zealand in the 1970s and 1980s. Judging from the number on the underside of the wheel I think that mine was made in 1983. Some of the parts could (I think) do with a bit more finishing such as the bobbins and the front and rear maidens (I'm on a crash course in spinning terminology) - there are some beautiful dark varnished examples online - but for now I'm just eager to get spinning.
4 comments:
what an awesome acquisition!
Hurrah! I'm so happy that someone I knew bought it. :D
Oh I'm so glad it found a good home
Yep, everyone gets to have a go - as soon as I've figured out how to work it!
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