This photograph, probably a tintype, was taken in Wales in 1885 by a traveling photographer.
The dear lady, in her traditional Welsh lady's headgear, is clearly fond of pattern in her personal attire.
The spinning wheel is interesting in that the only "fine" part of it is the drive wheel, itself; the rest of the wheel is quite rough-hewn. This makes sense as legs can get broken or wet and rotted, the tension mechanism can become worn, and the spindle mount can wear out. All can be easily replaced by any fairly competent wood-worker. But the drive wheel--the hub, the rim, and the spokes are a very different matter; they require a skilled woodworker to produce. If a move is necessary, all one needs do is bring along the drive wheel and spindle; the rest can be produced on the spot later.
The wool is also interesting. It is clearly mill-produced rolags. See the unspun rolag hanging from her left hand and the ropey bundle on the handle of the tensioner? Those are rolags that could only have been produced by a mill. See my previous entry addressing wool mills here. Although that discussion addresses wool mills in the US, the situation in the UK at the time would have been very similar.
I love the lady of many patterns and lovely headgear--it made my morning.
Posted by: Deborah | March 09, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Wow - She looks like Margaret Hamilton (aka Elmira Gulch). I wonder if Elmira ever spun. I doubt it, if so she would have been much calmer and not worried about yippy little dogs.
Posted by: Jenny | February 22, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Hmm, What is behind her? It looks like a rolled drop cloth, maybe supplied by the photographer? It doesn't look like a wall to the shed. I can't imagine spinning in such a dreary 'shed'. I think the photographer just put her and her wheel there for the photograph, don't you?
Posted by: sue | February 16, 2011 at 05:30 PM
Your posts are always interesting, but this one made me smile with your comment about her obviously being enamored with pattern. I wonder what the colors were, ha, ha.
Posted by: Caroline | February 08, 2011 at 07:51 PM
Most interesting, thank you for sharing. Yes, the hat is very 'non-Welsh'!
Posted by: Linda | February 08, 2011 at 01:14 PM
Great photo.
I hadn't heard of mill processed rolags. Is there such a thing these days?
Posted by: Dianna Rubidge | February 07, 2011 at 08:45 AM
Nice to see someone in a photo like this who is actually holding the fibre like she knows what to do with it. I love her hat - very unlike a 'traditional' Welshwoman's hat. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Freyalyn | January 30, 2011 at 05:23 PM
This has to be one of my all time favorite posts. the pictures, the history, the everything.
Posted by: JGR (Judi) | January 30, 2011 at 02:36 PM