Description: Click or clock reels measured the lengths of yarn skeins. They were were easier and more accurate at determining spun thread yardage than niddy-noddys because of the audible click when the user wound 40 turns (with each turn measuring about 2 yards). A click signaled that a knot (80-85 yards) had been reached. Seven knots, or 560 yards, was the goal. Most American examples of click or clock reels wound 85 yards, giving a final skein length of 80 yards after shrinkage in washing. Clock reels had an additional, visual advantage in that the user could visually track their progress and reeled amount of yarn if not a full skein (560 yards) on a face or dial that resmebled a clock face, marking yardage in eigths. This example of a clock reel features four arms, and a three-legged, plain tripod base. The pointer is missing on the dial indicator. Possible remnants of the painted face. Marked in 8ths. Cobbled together a bit. Slice of horn under the clicker acted as a spacer. Finger knob present.
Subjects: Textile fabrics; Wool Link to share this object record: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+69.1127 |