Wood-turning treadle lathe

Treadle lathe WS 102

The Museum of Lincolnshire Life not far from the centre of Lincoln is a fascinating place to spend a few hours, really well run and just so much to see.  Only one thing is missing: there is not a single Lincolnshire chair in the whole building. However I did come across this lathe; many people ask what sort of lathe the Lincolnshire chairmakers would have used and this picture gives the answer. The treadle on the floor would be pedalled by the turner himself and after a full day turning out components I should think he would have been quite weary. One exception was at Caistor were the chair lathes were driven by an overshot waterwheel fed by a stream - look out for tomorrow's post ...

© William Sergeant 2020