Can you identify this antique?

July 9, 2007 8:01 AM

Can you identify this antique?

It's something my uncle found while cleaning out the home of a deceased relative in West Virginia. The four expandable arms rotate around the center axis. Other items found in the home were as much as 100 years old or older. We have some guesses, but no definite knowledge. Does someone know exactly what this is?

posted by Pater Aletheias to Grab Bag (2 answers total)

Best answer: If it can be clamped down onto a table, and then it spins, it could be a swift, that would be used to wind yarn into balls. (Like the fourth item down here- http://yarnforward.com/ca/kalist.html)
posted by librarianamy at 8:08 AM on July 9, 2007

Response by poster: It's definitely clampable. That must be what it is--it looks like it would function exactly like the other example you gave. Thank you!
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:19 AM on July 9, 2007