French spinning wheel, iron, 18th century

This machine is constructed entirely of iron and was probably made in the South of France about 1750 for the purpose of spinning worsted yarn or of doubling.

The flyer spindle is centered in a frame which can slide up and down on the upright rods in which the driving wheel turns. A screw is threaded through the frame for the purpose of tightening the driving band. There is only one pulley, and that is fixed to the bobbin, so that the winding on was performed by the slipping of the bobbin on the spindle.