Please can we have more details of John Beswick's bobbin-winder. I have a bobbin winder of the locally produced type and I find that it does not hold all types of bobbins correctly. So, you guessed, I need another one that will hold all kinds of bobbins properly. At present I am winding bobbins manually and because I have problems with my thumbs - it can get really painful for me. Thanks, Karen in Malta.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Beth Schoenberg Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 3:42 AM To: Sue Babbs Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [lace] Fans Here I go, de-lurking again --- On 31/07/2007, at 12:45 AM, Sue Babbs wrote: > I recall that Springett's used to sell fan sticks and patterns to fit > those sticks. Does anyone still sell these or equivalent patterns and > fansticks? > Sue > Bobbin-maker and genius-gadgeteer John Beswick, here in Australia, will make sets of fan-sticks for you, customized (within limits). You need to send him the fan-leaf size/dimensions that you intend to make -- he suggested to me that I send him a paper version of the intended fan-leaf, so he knows exactly how to make the set of sticks so it fits. I'm still deciding how I want to use a set of perspex(Plexiglass) fan-sticks, but I haven't designed the fan-leaf yet, so I haven't actually ordered from him. John is the designer of the take-apart pocket bobbin-winder, among other inventions. It's very handy to have a set of sticks made for you if you're designing your own leaf, especially if you want a fontange or ballon shape, or asymmetrical, or a novelty shape across the top. Historically, although folding fans that open to the shape of a-section-of-a-circle have been the hands-down favorites, folding fans have been made in a huge variety of shapes. I have also been cruising eBay for ratty old fans, or plain old ugly fans (yeah, they happened, and were often enough considered so even in their time of origin), which historians would not think it necessary to preserve. Very, very occasionally there will come up for auction a set of sticks which has already been stripped of it's leaf, or a set that never had a leaf. My most recent such purchase is a fan that has a bronze-colored silk leaf hand-painted with gorgeous tiny songbirds in shades of blue and brown. The silk has shattered beyond repair in several places, but the little paintings are largely intact. When I have a suitable shadow-box frame ready, I will be carefully removing the fan-leaf and mounting it, flat and archivally, in the shadowbox in a way that minimizes the look of damage. The sticks are a darkish wood, cut in a classic serpentine style (wavy along the whole length, each stick and the guards), and natural finish with no paint, gilding, or pique work. It doesn't help you find a matched set of sticks-with-a-lace-pattern, but if you *do* want to try eBay for some fan-sticks, search with a group of words -- "hand fan eventail facher ventaglio abanico" -- to get listings from any number of European and South American ebay members, as well as North American. You'll probably get lots of rock-star posters, modern Chinese Battenberg fans, sometimes whole-salers selling bulk lots of cheap souvenir-type fans, but putting "antique" in the search only limits the English-language search. Prices have been steadily rising on ebay, but if you are patient, you can still get sets of bone, ivory, or fine wood sticks for US $20-$50, intact and in useable condition. Tortoise-shell rarely goes for less than $60, and then only if the fan is terrible and/or the sticks are damaged, broken, or parts-missing. If you are buying internationally, be aware of endangered-species-product laws, and make sure your seller labels your package properly, especially as to *age.* Read descriptions carefully, especially if the seller deals in a large variety of antiques or collectibles -- they often don't know how to describe fans adequately, or else they underestimate or overestimate the difficulty of repairing the sticks for use. Many non-specialists just assume that anyone who buys a fan intends it only for framing. The seller "betsycrnfa" specializes in antique fans, nearly all are very nice "keepers," but if you call up her listings, you'll usually get several links to fans listed by other sellers. The seller "eastayton," who specializes in fine antique laces, also sells fans and lace fans, and you can use her listings the same way. Does this help any? Beth Schoenberg --- formerly of New Jersey, USA, now in Canberra, Australia -- where it's COLD! - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
