Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
July 24, 1988
By Jan Buffington and John Salamone
Vigo County Historical Society
Wheel whirred with woolen threads
Little is known abut the history of the spinning wheel, but it is assumed to have evolved from the drop spindle. Most believe it was in use between 500 and 1000 A.D., possibly in India. Its use gradually spread westward and first appeared in the British Island around 1300.
Many names have been given to this first type of spinning wheel. The British called it the big wheel, the high wheel, or the Jersey wheel. In Scotland, wool was spun on a muckle wheel; in Wales, the Welsh wheel, and in Ireland, the long wheel. Spinners from the southern Appalachian Highlands also called it the high wheel.
In the days of colonial America, this wheel was known as the walking wheel because the spinner has to walk back and forth in order to spin. The name used most recently is the wool wheel as it spins only wool fleece.
Whatever you choose to call it, this type of spinning wheel is easily recognized. There is a large wheel, which is turned by hand, mounted on the back of a long three- or four-legged bench. On the other end of the bench is a simple spindle which is turned by a driving band. This band is connected to the big wheel.
To spin, the spinner has to walk a triangular pattern. In one hand a small amount of fleece is held toward the front of the spindle. The other hand “throws” or turns the wheel. The spinning action twists the fleece into yarn. The spinning action twists the fleece into yarn as the spinner walks away from the wheel and pulls the fleece with even tension. When the spinner walks toward the wheel at an angle, the spun yarn winds itself onto the spindle. This process is repeated until the weary spinner has walked miles and miles. A hundred miles could be walked before enough yarn is spun for even the simplest garment.
The walking wheel played a part in America’s fight for independence. Because the colonists were dependent on the English spinners and weavers for their cloth, many northern colonies furnished their homesteaders with a loom and several walking wheels. The men and boys were taught spinning and the women and girls were taught weaving. It took four spinners to keep up with one weaver. Being able to produce their own homespun cloth helped break the hold England had on the colonies.
Patriotic colonists proudly wore their homespun clothing. Even brides chose it over more fashionable English-made cloth for their wedding dresses, and at his inauguration, George Washington wore homespun clothing.
The historical treasure this week is a walking wheel. It is not known who gave it to the museum, but it is known that not many walking wheels are left today. They were such a simple device that most were homemade. Once the more modern, treadle-operated spinning wheels became easier to obtain, the walking wheel was converted to firewood in many households. This wheel is on display in the museum’s Vigo Room.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.