CPW

I have long admired the beauty of a Canadian Production Wheel (CPW). Long before I became a spinner, I would see them at antique and flea markets and wish I had one, if nothing more than something beautiful to look at. However, my practical nature always kicked in, nothing is just to look at, it had to be useful too.

Fast forward a few years and I had finally learned to spin. Searching on Kijiji I found a working CPW in the Cobourg, Ontario area that eventually made it’s way to me (see here and here for more info). But last year, while participating as a vendor at Fibrefest (of which I will be again this year), another vendor close to me was spinning on a double treadle CPW, and it seemed magical, and I wanted one.

This week, this lovely came home with me.

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Upon first inspection I couldn’t find any identifying marks to indicate who the maker might be. But when I took it outside for these pictures, a shadowy mark on the table became visible. I searched on-line and Ravelry, and with almost certainty I will say that it is a Phillias Cadorette, mose likely made in the early 1900’s. This wheel appears to be original except for the hooks on the flyer, which are made from bent nails, we will have to fix that.

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Along with the wheel came two bags of carded batts in a blend of alpaca, merino and mohair in a colourway called “Fire & Brimstone”, as well as a bag of mohair/wool roving.

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And if that isn’t to my liking, I always have this,

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bags of wool and alpaca roving processed at Noble Fibre Mill (sorry, I don’t have a web page link for them) from various fleeces we had.

Happy spinning,

Kelly

Last year I blogged here about my then, new to me wheel. It was a lovely wheel, but required a little TLC.

I had been spinning on this wheel from time to time, but was having problems with the flyer, it didn’t always want to spin. It was time for an intervention.

On Ravelry, there is a group devoted to CPW’s (Canadian Production Wheels), with a thread on refurbishing them. Members have posted lovely images of their refurbished wheels, many of which they refurbished themselves. While I am no stranger to paint stripper, rubber gloves, breathing masks, sharp tools and sandpaper, I decided to leave this one to the professionals and headed to our favourite antiques dealer/refinisher, Butcher’s Antiques.

The remainder of the old shellac finish was removed (some had been removed by a previous owner who had tried to refinish it), rough gouges in the wheel were sanded smooth and are barely noticeable, given a warm maple stain and finished with tung oil.

Here’s how it looks after its spa treatment: