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leach treadle wheel ( and...notions of, and distinctions about...)

updated sun 3 aug 03

 

pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sat 2 aug 03


Hi Robert,


Yes...(I kept yer message below, being as it is short and all)

Makes sense...

I have thought of how one as likes a Kick or Treadle Wheel may as well =
sometimess have hurt themselves in some way, where a Motor might be =
welcome, but not one as speeds matters up too much!


My notions of Motorization were at first acedemic...just to think on it =
in some different ways than the arbor 'nub', but I would agree, the =
general charm of their use and results lay in the slower and silent =
turning.


I thought as well, that the Stand-Up Wheels have adventages for =
themselves...as do the Sit-down in some ways.

And that the side-kicking effort of the Treadle could be happier a =
vertical one, were the Wheel a 'treadle' type, verses where one kick the =
Fly Wheel itself directly.

And that for larger Work, a larger or heavier Fly Wheel would prove =
happier then the 'light' Wooden one of the true Leach type, as is nice =
for smallish Work as he and his tended to do.

So...much depend on the intentions of the (kind-of) Work...

One thing I do not like at all...is the notion of that 'lever' being =
Mechanicly obliged to keep oscillating with the Fly Wheel's momentum =
behind it...where it would sooner or later whang one's ankle or =
shin...nothing appealing to me there at all...

Many variables...

From what I know of it, I agree as well that the Old Time Potters were =
plenty 'fast' to get the work done...and the old 'Tun-a-Day' (or half =
that) of varied work, even of 'flower Pots', would tax about anyone's =
'speed' on a modern Electric Wheel...


Best,

Phil
Las Vegas


Phil,

I think may people are missing the point when they contemplate =
motorizing a Leach style treadle wheel.

The wheel is a tool and as such it influences the final outcome of the =
vessel created on it. The treadle wheel with it's assumed =
"deficiencies" is also one of the reasons we fell in love with the =
shapes Bernard and his staff were producing. =20

The wheel was an integral part of the process. Pots off the wheel =
rarely exhibited a machined aura. The resulting vessels had far more =
character than the perfectly symmetrical, often larger, shapes more =
easily produced with electricity.

BTW the potters I knew who used the Leach style treadle wheel were not =
slower in producing fine pottery than today's electric wheel potters. =
Their skills acquired from superior training by master potters more =
than made up for the lack of speed. =20

The only drawback I was ever concerned with as I mentioned to you =
before, was the fear of looking like a fiddler crab later in life.

Regards,
Bob