WHEEL, SPINNING

Description: COMPLETE FLAX SPINNING WHEEL WHICH IS FOOT POWERED. 3 SPINDLE LEGS, FRONT ONE IS CHIPPED. 8 SPOKED WHEEL (34.5 CM DIA.) CONSTRUCTED OF 4 SECTIONS WHICH ARE DOVE-TAILED TOGETHER, SECURED BY WOODEN PINS. JOINED WITH LEATHER HINGES AT BASE. FINISH HAS BEEN STRIPPED AND SANDED. HAND CARVED. HAND FORGED SHUTTLE PIN. SPINDLE HOOKS FORMED FROM BENT NAILS. ALL IRON HARDWARE APPEAR HAND FORGED; HAS BEEN REPAIRED WITH ROUND HEADED NAILS. HANK OF FLAX IS ATTACHED TO HAND CARVED WOODEN HOLDER WITH HAND FORGED METAL PIN. HOLDER HAS 4 HOLES. FLAX IS A RECENT ADDITION FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES.

History: DONOR OF LITHUANIAN HERITAGE & BELIEVES THIS IS THE ONLY LITHUANIAN WHEEL IN CANADA. HER MOTHER USED THE WHEEL UP TO 1945 TO MAKE ETHNIC COSTUMES. DONOR SAYS WHEEL HAS BEEN IN FAMILY FOR 125 YRS. (1986). *UPDATE* IN 2010 NICOLE HEMBROFF, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT, CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF PALLET RACKING. SHE WAS UNABLE TO FIND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR DONOR OR NEXT OF KIN. *UPDATE* IN 2024 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT, TESS MCNAUGHTON, CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF ITEMS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN PREVIOUS AUDITS. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT THE DONOR IS FROM LETHBRIDGE HERALD ARTICLES. NIJOLA PETRONELE SCHAUFL WAS BORN IN LITHUANIA ON DECEMBER 2, 1926. MRS. SCHAUFL CAME TO CANADA, ARRIVING IN WINNIPEG IN 1947. IN 1953 SHE MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE WHERE SHE RESIDED UNTIL HER PASSING ON FEBRUARY 25, 1986. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE REGARDING THE OBJECT OR ITS USE.