I brought home a new Cherry Matchless spinning wheel from MSWF. I went to Morgaine's Carolina Homespun booth to try out a 24" Schacht-Reeves Saxony wheel, like I did last year. Morgaine is one of my favorite vendors, she is very attentive and provides excellent customer service. I have sold all of my spinning equipment (my Wyatt Norwegian, my Majacraft Gem II and its Woolee Winder and bobbins, my Walnut Folding Lendrum, and my Bosworth Charkha) in the past year to finance a Schacht-Reeves Saxony and all the additions I would want for it.
Morgaine did not have the Saxonies this year, instead she had three Schacht Matchless wheels in cherry wood. I thought they had all been accounted for by now as the orders were taken months ago. I tried out the Double-Drive set-up and was impressed with how smooth it was. I had told Al that there was no way I could come home with a wheel this year as I would have to order one and it would take months to get it. Morgaine's assistant was very helpful and carted the boxed one out to my car with me. Al put it together for me the next day and it has been delightful spinning ever since. I find I am preferring the Double-Drive as the knot in the Scotch Tension band I tied is a little annoying. I did receive two Lendrum Plying drivebands and I plan to experiment with them for my Scotch Tension drive bands, using one for the large plying head and the other for the smaller pulleys. For all my years of spinning, I had never tried a Matchless. After joining the Schacht Group on Ravelry, I learned just how wonderful these cleverly engineered wheels really are and I got to see it for myself at MSWF.
The wheel looks fantastic & I am sure you will have many happy hours of spinning. I have a Ladybug with double drive & scotch tension but have only used the scotch tension.
Posted by: Ann | May 20, 2012 at 09:07 PM
That Al is so handy :)
Posted by: Lawrence | May 21, 2012 at 01:49 PM
Glad to hear that you are enjoying your new wheel. I know a lot of people stand-by their Matchless.
Can't wait to see all that you make with it.
Posted by: textillian | May 22, 2012 at 07:27 PM