Hello all!
I bought a spinning wheel at a market for a whopping 3500 HUF (about £10 give or take), but since I’m a novice spinner I don’t know what kind of wheel it is, whether it’s any good, whether anything is missing on it or what’s the best way to set it up.
Can anyone help me? Or maybe someone has a good googling mojo to help me find resources online about it? Pretty please?
If you need any more different angles or closeups please let me know!
Thanks all!
I’m not a spinner so I don’t know, but I’m thinking if you can take it to a yarn store where someone knows wheels it might help. I’ll also tag someone that might know.
@mullerslanefarm
Thank you! Unfortunately I live out in the country side with only a tiny yarn (and other stuff) shop in town, otherwise that’d be a great idea 
Maybe if nobody here knows I can message some Budapest yarn shops, but I’m still not fluent in the language so this is easier for me. Lazy me eh? 
@Eva_Susanne_Solberg-Onodi,
It reminds me of a New Zealand style castle wheel like a Wee Peggy. Let me do some digging and see what I can find for you.
It appears everything is there and should only need a good oiling and perhaps a new drive band.
Another place you can try to have folks help you identify your wheel is on the Ravelry group Antique Spinning Wheels http://www.ravelry.com/groups/antique-spinning-wheels
Thank you! That’s really kind of you! I’ll check it out.
I have a feeling it’s a quite old wheel. When I bought it, it had one
bobbin but my husband (the dear) took it to a carpenter who used it as a
template to make three more!
The drive bands I’ve seen are quite thick leather, is that correct? It
seems like they would jump off the track if I use them, the track isn’t
that deep.
I’m not sure whether the drive band should go all in one direction either
or whether it should sort of cross to make the bobbin spin in the opposite
direction. Does that make sense?
Thanks for your help!
Don’t replace the drive band with a leather band. My antique wheels used cotton string bands … about the size of #5 crochet thread. Take a block of beeswax and wax the band to help give it a grip. There’s a special flat knot to use so the knot doesn’t ‘thump-thump’ over the whorls, but if you don’t mind the ‘thump’ a square knot will do.
The wheel is a ‘double drive’, meaning the drive band is one long continuous band that goes around around the flyer whorl, down around the drive wheel, up around the bobbin whorl, back down around the drive wheel, and then up and tied off. It will naturally cross.
The configuration you are talking about usually occurs on electric wheels that only spin in one direction. The drive band needs to cross to get the flyer/bobbin going in the other direction. With a treadle wheel, the direction of the drive wheel is controlled by you! It will spin in either direction.
The tension (control of how slow/fast the take up of the yarn) of this type of wheel usually is on the side opposite the orifice. The knob on the side should turn allowing the flyer assembly to move up & down or perhaps it is like the Kromski Minstrel and the long maiden on the off side allows the flyer assembly to move up and down. When you put on the new drive band, make sure the flyer assembly is in the lowest position because your drive band will stretch over time.
How wonderful you have a husband that supports your spinning! (I have one like that also … )
Best thing you can do right now is (after cleaning and oiling the wheel & putting on a new drive band) is to just sit and treadle the wheel. Don’t be a speed racer!! You want to be able to just have the drive wheel turn at a nice slow & steady pace. Don’t be afraid to use your hand to get it going again. You’ll want to be able to stop the wheel with your foot.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions as you get more comfortable with your wheel.
Fantastic, thank you so much for all the information! I have some beeswax and lots of different cotton threads, I’m sure I can find something that’s good
I tried a bit of spinning when I first got the wheel, using some rough string for a drive band. It was slipping like crazy and the wheel seemed to start in a different direction each time I’m sure that’ll get easier in time too. If I get a spare moment tomorrow I’ll post a picture of my previous attempt for you to giggle at 
I was at a yarn festival in Budapest in October and bought some really pretty roving but I want to practice before I try that out so I don’t ruin it!
Never worry about ruining wool … the sheep grow more for you!
