Polly467@AOL.COM on fri 23 feb 01
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 What was the first known use of the wheel?
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The first wheels were not part of moving vehicles.=A0 They were
potter's wheels, probably invented around 6500 BC by artisans in Asia
Minor.=A0 The first known wheeled vehicles were not in use until 3,000
years later, in 3500 BC in Sumer and Syria.
The first potter's wheels were quite simple.=A0 A flat, stone disk was
mounted horizontally on a pivot and spun, with wet clay at the center
of the disk.=A0 Since both of the potter's hands were occupied with
shaping the clay, an assistant was needed to keep the wheel
spinning.=A0 Later designs included a stick that was inserted into a
notch to turn the wheel.
A major improvement came in 16th century Europe, when a separate
flywheel provided much better speed control.=A0 The foot treadle,
invented in the 19th century, was a further refinement, followed by
variable-speed electric motors.
The history of pottery around the world:
>http://www.fwkc.com/encyclopedia/low/articles/p/p020000647f.html
Marcia Selsor on sat 24 feb 01
Dear Encyclopedia,
Sorry, but I have to disagree with the description of the first wheel
potter having an assistant. I have photos of potters using a "Celtic
wheel" where there are handles on the bottom of the whell head. The
potter spins and throws a section. Then adds more clay and spins and
throws some more. This seems more likely to be the early method used on
the similar Asia Minor wheels. The wheel head has a shaft turning on a
greased point in the ground. See Don Davis' book page 13 or 15 (can't
remember)to see this wheel. The pots made on the wheel are consistent to
those of the same forms. really nice pots.
Marcia Selsor in Montana where winter keeps coming back!
Polly467@AOL.COM wrote:
>=20
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 What was the first known use of the wheel?
>=20
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>=20
> The first wheels were not part of moving vehicles.=A0 They were
> potter's wheels, probably invented around 6500 BC by artisans in Asia
> Minor.=A0 The first known wheeled vehicles were not in use until 3,000
> years later, in 3500 BC in Sumer and Syria.
>=20
> The first potter's wheels were quite simple.=A0 A flat, stone disk was
> mounted horizontally on a pivot and spun, with wet clay at the center
> of the disk.=A0 Since both of the potter's hands were occupied with
> shaping the clay, an assistant was needed to keep the wheel
> spinning.=A0 Later designs included a stick that was inserted into a
> notch to turn the wheel.
>=20
> A major improvement came in 16th century Europe, when a separate
> flywheel provided much better speed control.=A0 The foot treadle,
> invented in the 19th century, was a further refinement, followed by
> variable-speed electric motors.
>=20
> The history of pottery around the world:
>=20
> html">http://www.fwkc.com/encyclopedia/low/articles/p/p020000647f.html>
>=20
> _______________________________________________________________________=
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--=20
Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/Tuscany2001.html
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/Gallery.html
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