Carding by Osmosis

The getting-ready-for-fleeces adventure continues, with the addition of a new (to me) set of hand carders. Actually, they're old, perhaps very old. This, I think, is a good thing for me. While I may know nothing about carding, I'm hoping the carders will remember the motions from well-skilled hands and lead me along. I actually love the idea that my hands are holding tools held by women long before me who knew sheep and wool and how to make clothing for their families.



I bought them on eBay from Freshwater Fibers for $20.50 ($28.00 with shipping) -- a good deal for carders, considering that the new ones go for anywhere from $45-ish to $80 or more. Better yet, my theory is holding up, because with these very carders, I've been turning out rolags of Corriedale that look like this (dining room chair for size, and also because that's where I was):


This skill-by-osmosis theory also worked with one of my doctoral exams. I attribute my passing the Spanish translation exam to a friend's watch. I had forgotten to wear mine on the day of the exam and begged hers off her wrist as I ran into the exam room. I had no thoughts of passing the thing, but I wanted to be able to time myself on different parts to improve for the next time around. Miraculously (really -- I'm not fluent in Spanish, especially literary criticism in Spanish), I passed. Susan (the watch's owner), however, is fluent, hailing from San Antonio. We presume that the watch passed this knowledge to me through the walls of cells in my wrist.

So, how old are the cards, and how much skill memory do they hold? I'm working on finding out. They have a maker's mark:


Turns out that Whittemores have quite a history in Boston and environs, and the technique invented to manufacture these things was progenitor to lots of mechanized manufacture in the U.S. and Great Britain. The original Whittemore card mill opened in 1799 according to several histories of the area (all this is available online -- unbelievable). It closed in the early 19th century and opened again in 1837 or thereabouts. After that, the story gets more murky. Several additional factories were opened, and the history of the Whittemore and Watson families appears to intertwine in many ways. The latest reference I could find to L.S. Watson & Co. was in a May 5, 1885 New York Times article that reports a burglary of Watson's home in Leicester, Mass. and then his store safe by means of keys stolen from the home.

I can't find any handy references to dating the cards manufactured under Watson's mark. I have an auctioneer and gallery-owner friend who may be able to help me out. If you have any ideas, shout 'em out in the comments. Regardless, I'm banking my carding future on the fact that these things will remember what's supposed to be happening.