Little stand

[Brighton]

We were recently cleaning out my Grandfather's old work room and I came across this little stand thing. We're not sure what it is, but we thought it was interesting and were wondering if anyone knows what it's for.

From the feet to the top of the middle pole it stands about 12 inches high

[Bill Houghton]

I want to say it's an accessory to a spinning wheel, to hold the yarn - or something like that.  Not familiar enough with that craft to remember for sure.

[superzstuff]

Looks like a stand for a kettle drum.

[wvtools]

Bill H. is correct.  It is called a yarn swift and is used for handling yarn.

[BruceS]

Sure could be retasked for drying oily finishing rags.

[superzstuff]

Since I have and use a yarn swift, I don't think this is one. Swifts are usually made of wood. This metal stand would not hold the yarn, it would slide off. Here is a photo of my swift.

[Branson]

Superzstuff is right,  I've seen, documented, and repaired lots of swifts through my work with Sutter's Fort.  It's also, at 12 inches to the top of the supporting pole, too small for most I've seen.   Definitely too small for a kettle drum.

It may put up all the arms all the way up as in the photo, but they wouldn't necessarily be commonly used in that position.  Might have supported something flat just as easily.

Your grandfather's workshop...  What kinds of things did your grandfather work on?  Could you post larger pictures?  Hard to see how it's really built.  Are there any makers marks on it?

[wvtools]

I am sorry.  I thought it was made of wood.  I guess I should have asked.  I had one earlier this year with just a few arms like that.

[Brighton]

Thanks for everyone replies so far
Branson, My grandfather owned a fence construction company. Technically, the workroom we cleaned out was my great grandfather's, but it was just off of the shop at my grandfather's company. My great grandfather liked to tinker around with a lot of different things, so it's probably no fence related. My uncle owns the company now and doesn't recognize it.


The top arms naturally hang down like this.


You can push the arms up like this, and they'll stay. However, they wont stay up until you get it up to this point. A piece might be missing or something though.


This is the bottom of the base


it unscrews like this


and the bars come out so it can fold up


Here it is folded


upon further inspection I realize it does have something written on the bottom. I can't really make it out though, but here it is.

[Brighton]

I just put it under a magnifying glass and the best I can make out it "Made by Baystate _______ co. Springfield Mass" I can't make out the word/words between baystate and co.

[superzstuff]

We used Baystate abrasives at work. They made grinding wheels and sanding supplies. Just a guess. May be a different Baystate.

[Brighton]

Ok, I got someone else to look and they said it says "Made by Bay State Wrench & Tool Co."

[johnsironsanctuary]

It looks like a miniature of a reel for fish nets. (WAG)

Here is what AA knows about the company.

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/bay-state-tool.html