Anonymous Grandmas

This is "Grandma Mary Erben" of Wisconsin.  Other than that little bit of information, all I know about this pleasant soul is in the photograph.

(click on image to enlarge)

Her biggish wheel is an upright double drive with a flat rim on the drive wheel.  She has a good supply of washed wool close at hand and has just started a new bobbin.  She has a tuft of wool in her left hand, but there's no sign of combs or hand cards.  Perhaps she just teases the wool out by hand and spins from that.

Take a look at the very interesting kate in the lower right-hand corner.

Finally, I like that her family thought enough of her that they had the photograph professionally mounted.  And so she was preserved for us.

I kind of wish she were my grandma, but she was someone's grandma.

spinning wheel   spinning

Comments

[Sharon]

Look at the twinkle in her eye. What a dynamic woman - I love it that she's pleased to be photographed with her wheel. I claim her as an ancestor - surely I am her issue - or perhaps her sister's or her brother's...

[Sylvia]

Neat picture! Love the wheel. Think I'd like Grandma, too.

[Laurie]

She doesn't look as unhappy as some of the others.

[jessie]

She looks pretty content, considered she also looks like she had a pretty hard life. Do you think she found spinning to be the kind of relaxing activity we do? Or was it just another chore?

Great photo.

[naomi dagen bloom]

synchronicity? blogged about "wind-up toys for grandma," a robot wearing a scalloped apron. very observant on diane's part. thought it was just way material draped on her shoes; those intrigue me.

unusual to find such a photo with entire name on back.

[Cindy D]

She's just hiding the combs behind her on the floor........

Neat picture ....

[Beth S.]

Do they make kates like that anywhere? I really like it. It looks very stable and secure, with no risk of airborne bobbin syndrome.

[Diane]

I notice her apron's got a scalloped hem, someone felt a little creative or maybe that was standard?

[Maia]

I love this picture. She has a sweet face.

[Carole]

Her clothes give some hints, too. It's not a pinner apron so it's later than Civil War but it's a long dress so it's not much later than Civil War. Or do you already have a date on the photo?

[Cheryl]

I like that Lazy Kate!

[margene]

A wonderful heritage!

[Judy]

I just might want to make me one of those. Looks pretty handy.