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leach wheel

updated mon 13 dec 04

 

Edwards on sat 11 dec 04


Hello Tom and all:
This brings back some good memories. When I was visiting Seth at Wenford
Bridge he phoned Trever for me, at the Leach Pottery in St Ives. The
pottery was closed because it was monday, but Trever was there making
clay. He agreed to open the pottery and show me around. I spent a nice
afternoon at the old pottery and got to work at one of the old "Leach
wheels". The wooden parts of the treadle were incredibly wore. One, can
only imagine how many pots were made on those wheels. A good cup of tea
and a good afternoon--- had to pay a price for it by giving up the
4-8pm shift at Svend's firing with the midnight to 4am shift! I barely
made it back in time. :O)
Thanks Tom, for jogging the memory,
~Craig
________________
Craig Edwards, New London MN
e-mail craigedwards@charter.net
http://photobucket.com/albums/v11/credwards/

Betsy Price/Tom Wirt wrote:

>A few years ago I posted an inquiry to find some history on the Leach
>Treadle wheel. Just a few days ago, I got a reply from someone searching
>the archives...a good thing to do. Following is the reply I received, I'm
>inserting it mostly so it gets into the archive.
>
>Tom
>
>Dear Tom Wirt,
>
>I've just come across your plea for information on the Leach wheel. So, in
>case you're still interested...
>
>The wheel was designed by my father Dicon Nance (1909 - 2002) when he was an
>early apprentice at the St.Ives pottery in the during the 1920's. He was
>appalled by many of the laborious methods that were adopted there (Bernard
>Leach was not a very practical man). The wheel was one of many practical
>solutions my father devised. As far as I know it's design was quite original
>and for the following reasons was perhaps the most successful:
>a) 3 legs prevented it from rocking on the uneven flagstone floor.
>b) the treadle was suspended from a chain which could be adjusted to match
>the length of ones lower leg so it described the same arc as ones foot.
>c) the bearing on the crank shaft was made of leather to tolerate this arc.
>d) a fly wheel, which had lead inserts to adjust according to the weight of
>clay being thrown, was mounted within reach of the other foot which could be
>
>
>

Betsy Price/Tom Wirt on sat 11 dec 04


A few years ago I posted an inquiry to find some history on the Leach
Treadle wheel. Just a few days ago, I got a reply from someone searching
the archives...a good thing to do. Following is the reply I received, I'm
inserting it mostly so it gets into the archive.

Tom

Dear Tom Wirt,

I've just come across your plea for information on the Leach wheel. So, in
case you're still interested...

The wheel was designed by my father Dicon Nance (1909 - 2002) when he was an
early apprentice at the St.Ives pottery in the during the 1920's. He was
appalled by many of the laborious methods that were adopted there (Bernard
Leach was not a very practical man). The wheel was one of many practical
solutions my father devised. As far as I know it's design was quite original
and for the following reasons was perhaps the most successful:
a) 3 legs prevented it from rocking on the uneven flagstone floor.
b) the treadle was suspended from a chain which could be adjusted to match
the length of ones lower leg so it described the same arc as ones foot.
c) the bearing on the crank shaft was made of leather to tolerate this arc.
d) a fly wheel, which had lead inserts to adjust according to the weight of
clay being thrown, was mounted within reach of the other foot which could be
used to assist with stopping and starting.
When he left the pottery he left the design with Bernard's son David.
However, David later sold the design for quite a sum to a manufacturing
company in Newton Abbot, Devon UK which is how they became available
world-wide. Although the wheel is now recognised as the archetypal English
wheel, my father never got a penny for designing it and worse, the design is
invariably credited to David Leach!

So now you know! I hope this answers your question
Regards
Jonathan Nance