Comments on: Can you identify this antique?

Question: Can you identify this antique?

Pater Aletheias — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:01:34 -0800

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?

By: librarianamy

librarianamy — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:08:34 -0800

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)

By: Pater Aletheias

Pater Aletheias — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:19:52 -0800

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!