S/5003 Antique Treen Early 19th Century Boxwood Manufacturer's Measuring Wheel

The solid carved boxwood wheel is marked in one inch and eighth of an inch measurements and revolves between twin pronged supports with two boxwood washers and a central screw thread attachment to remove and exchange the wheel. The shaped handle and prongs have incised line and turned decoration. Held by the handle, the wheel revolves very easily and after research we have found out that this was used for the marking and manufacturing of rolls of measuring tape with a brass end, which one often finds amongst sewing requisites and was used for measuring the length of items in the making.

Sold 8½ in. (21.5 cm.) Wide
4 in. (10 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1820