Hi Nicky I replied before I saw your article - Interesting. When was the change in twist S vs. Z? I have always been under the impression that it is to do with the fibre linen vs. cotton. I can never remember (I can look it up if you need) which is which. One has a natural twist one way, and the other the other and if the thread is spun in the wrong direction the changes in atmospheric moisture will change the spin and may be some of the reason for modern threads to untwist. I know mercerisation and gassing thread were discovered in the late 19th century (again I can look it up, 1880s I think) and I don't think cotton thread was widely used before this time, although I may be quite wrong about this. The old, small bobbins we have been discussing I think would have been very much earlier. Mine are slim, the widest bulbous part no wider than the average modern East Midlands and narrowing substantially above the bulb. they are 8.5cm -just over 9cm long with a corresponding neck - not suitable for thicker thread. The spangled ones have small spangles about 7 2mmx3mm and 2mmx2mm beads. Bobbin size has to compliment the thread size as it largely controls the tension. Too heavy a bobbin and the tension will be too tight, too light a bobbin and it will be difficult to get the tension right. I am lucky to have aquired a large collection of bobbins (various qualities but all good working bobbins) over the years and can keep several separate groups of different sizes and total weight (bobbin + spangle) for different groups of thread thicknesses. These little bobbins would have been used for thread equivalent to our modern 140/2 Egyptian cotton and finer.
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