Don Goodrich on fri 13 sep 96
Here's one for you potters wheel experts out there. A friend just sold me
a wheel that had been collecting dust in his basement for several years. Said
it came from a school art department. It's definitely not homemade, since the
splashpan (NOT removable) is a light alloy casting as are its supports. The
wheelhead is 225mm (almost 9") in diameter and derives its power from the
electric motor via a series of 4 pulleys and 3 belts, one of which makes a
half-twist to get from the horizontal axis of the motor to the vertical axis
of the wheel. Speed control is achieved by variable slip of the belts on the
first pair of pulleys, by pulling or releasing a lever that holds their
shaft. The splashpan incorporates adjustable armrests with thumbscrews to
lock them in place. The wheel/pulley/splashpan assembly and the motor are
bolted to a wooden base reminiscent of a short ironing board; this and the
slightly adjustable seat are clamped to a tubular steel base reminiscent of a
short-legged sawhorse. This mechanical masterpiece works just fine, seems to
have no trouble centering a 15-lb lump of clay. I'm curious as to its
origins. Who made it and how long ago? Anyone have its surviving siblings?
The maker still in business? After cleaning and inspecting, I've found no
maker's marks or model numbers.
If anyone would like a picture to help identify it, I can email a couple
of photos (I can send pictures in .bmp, .gif, .pcx, or .tif format) privately
cause I don't think the listserver can handle 'em.
Thanks, Don Goodrich in Zion, Illinois on the first cool day of the
season
Bill Aycock on sat 14 sep 96
At 05:08 PM 9/13/96 EDT, you wrote:
a description of a powered wheel you had acquired.---
I had a twin to this one, about 30+ years ago. It may have come from Amaco,
but I am not sure. The speed variation was by varying the position of the
center wheel of a three part pulley. On mine, the lever holding the pulley
was connected to a rope leading down to a foot lever.
During my earliest sessions with the "Ugly Pot" syndrome, I had this mounted
on a shelf on the back (outside) wall of my utility room. In my ignorance, I
mounted it about waist high. The really surprising thing is that I did make
a few pots. I had NEVER seen a wheel used at all, and my only reference was
a book by Kenny.
After I saw how potters really worked, I made a kick wheel and went to
Penland for a session.
I dont even remember who I gave the little monster to, but the motor wound
up on a grinder.
If I find any of my old catalogs, and locate a better reference, I will let
you know.
Bill, waxing nostalgic on Persimmon Hill
Bill Aycock --- Persimmon Hill --- Woodville, Alabama, USA --- (in
the N.E. corner of the State)
also-- W4BSG -- Grid EM64
wrolley@garlic.com on sun 15 sep 96
Don,
I was recently given a similar wheel (also used in a school art department at on
time.) I will check the measurements against yours in the AM, but mine is well
marked. It is a Skutt Model "B". I am only missing the documentation on the
motor, which someone had scavanged for use in a woodworking shop.
I have called Skutt, and they have not made wheels for over 20 years and no
longer had any documentation as to the motor used. At least the pulley system
is similar to what you described.
Wes Rolley
Who just finished a very good workshop on Acoma pottery.
wrolley@garlic.com CrossPlatform Creativity
Reflections Publishing, Inc. CrossPlatform Multimedia Development
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