TOWARDS A STANDARD NOMENCLATURE FOR
DESCRIBING LACE BOBBINS

INTRODUCTION.
 

Any newcomer to the world of lace bobbins will almost certainly use the existing literature as their main (perhaps exclusive) source of information about these wonderful tools of the lacemaker.  Unfortunately because of the lack of a classified scheme of names for lace bobbins there is a very real possibility of confusion occurring over the names of certain lace bobbins. This article endeavours to bring together the historic and modern descriptions of types of lace bobbins, compare each of them and propose a standard name and description for each of these types.

There are a plethora of books on lace making but with a few notable exceptions details of the bobbins used are very few and far between, barely a paragraph or two seems to suffice in most of the books.  A similar situation pertains to many of the books on lace history and lace identification.  A limited review of the bibliography reveals eight books and one series of articles that deals in any depth with the subject of lace bobbins and their nomenclature.  These are
 

  • Wright, Thomas The Romance of the Lace Pillow.  H.H.Armsrtong. Olney 1919. Reprinted Ruth Bean Carlton 1982.
  • Whiting Gertrude.  Old-Time Tools and Toys of Needlework.  Dover Publications inc.  New York. reprint 1971. Originally published by Columbia University Press. New York 1928 under the title Tools and Toys of Stitchery.
  • Freeman, Charles. Pillow Lace in the east midlands. Borough of Luton Museum an Art Gallery. 1958 Reprinted 1980.
  • Huetson, T. L. Lace and Lace Bobbins. A history and Collectors Guide. David and Charles. Newton Abbot. 1973.
  • Hopewell, Jeffrey.  Pillow Lace and Bobbins. Shire Publications. Princes Risborough. 1975. Reprinted 1994.
  • Bellerby, Denys.  Lace Making Bobbins. Lace. A Series of 9 Articles.  Published around 1978.  (The exact reference is unknown to me as I only have photocopies.)
  • Springett, Christine and David. Success to the Lace Pillow.  Privately Published. C & D Springett.  Rugby. 1996
  • Bullock, Alice-May.  Lace and Lace Making.  B. T. Baysford Ltd. London. 1981.
  • Springett, David.  Turning Lace Bobbins.  Privately Published . C & D Springett.  Rugby. 1995


    • STRUCTURE OF THE COMPARISON.
     

    Many publications have mistakes in them or are perhaps written in a manner that opens the interpretation to be mistaken.  Generally the rule in historical research is that a publication that is nearest the time period under review should be the most accurate.  For that reason I propose to use Wrights book as the primary reference and compare the other publications to that.  In his preface to the 1919 edition Wright says that he wrote this volume because “the work must be done at once or never.”  The reason for this statement was that the “old workers, who have supplied the greater part of the information conveyed in these pages, will have passed away.”  He then goes on to mention particularly the chapters on “the Bobbins and Lace Tells” as particular examples of their contribution. The implication is that he has spoken to many of the lace workers alive at that time.  This must add historical weight to his observations and record.

    Whilst this comparison will take Wright as its base line and use it as the foundation for the review of the various descriptions of the nomenclature (i.e. system of naming bobbins). Each of his types will be defined and compared with the descriptions of the other authors.  Where different types or names are used by other authors they will be introduced chronologically, by date of publication.  i.e. All of Wrights names followed by those remaining in Whiting, followed by those remaining in Freeman etc. etc.

    This article will deal only with those bobbins known generically as East Midlands Bobbins and associated bobbins.  It will not encompass Honiton (or to be more accurate, East Devon Bobbins) or indeed the terminology used for Inscription bobbins or any other non East Midland bobbins..
     

    COMPARATIVE NOMENCLATURE.
     
    DUMPS OR BOBTAILED BOBBINS. (Wright Page 125)
      Comment:  It would appear from the above that the terms “dump” and “bob-tail”, “bobtail” can be used interchangeably. I would propose the following description:
    BOBTAIL OR DUMP. A small, short (2 inches) light, wooden bobbin, usually single headed, unspangled.  Its shape is somewhat like a slim pear drop, with a narrow throat.  At the base there is often a small knob reminiscent of a rabbits “bobtail.”  Some can now be found that have been subsequently spangled.


    BITTED BOBBINS.  (Wright Page 126)
     


    Comment:  All these writers agree as to the type of decoration and the name given to it.  Though it is possible to break down the type of bitting into further categories and some by makers, but this is not the purpose of this article. . The reader should be aware of the difference between: “bitting” and “splicing”, as it is just possible that a beginner could confuse the two.  Splicing is when the bobbin is cut right through and another piece (or pieces) of wood is sandwiched between the two parts which is then re-glued together.  Bitting is the letting in of slivers of another kind or colour of wood (usually) into an opening that is sawn into an intact bobbin.
    I would propose the following description for this type of decoration:

    BITTED BOBBINS. A bobbin, usually of wood but occasionally bone, that has decorative inlays of contrasting colour wood (“bits”) occasionally bone, in various designs, e.g. lines curves, “ticks”, fingernails, etc.


    BEDFORDSHIRE TIGERS.  (Wright p126)


    Comment: No problem here.  I would propose the following description:

    TIGER BOBBINS. A wooden or bone bobbin, that not unduly fancy turned, that has rings or narrow bands of pewter or lead encircling the shaft of the bobbin.  There may be many or few bands and may also have other types of decoration. i.e. wire banding, coloured dots etc.


    BEDFORDSHIRE LEOPARDS  (Wright p126)


    Comment. No confusion.  I would propose the following description:

    LEOPARD BOBBINS.  A bone or wooden bobbin that is not unduly fancy turned, that is studded with “spots” of pewter.  The spots mostly go right through the bobbin, but can occasionally be inlaid into the side of the bobbin.  Spots can be both flush with the shank or protruding.  There may also be some other forms of decoration. see above.
    BUTTERFLY BOBBINS.  (Wright p126)


    Comment:  either names, butterflies or Bedfordshire-fly can be used for these bobbins.  Probably Bedfordshire-fly describes the bobbin type more accurately as it indicates both its origin and the decoration, whereas the term butterfly concentrates more on the form of decoration.  I propose the following description:

    BEDFORDSHIRE-FLY   Sometimes known as a  butterfly.  A wood or bone bobbin, not unduly fancy turned that has a pewter decoration on its shank that reminds the user of butterfly wings.  This decoration can more easily imagined as an arrow pointer, or a crows foot or even a broad arrow.  The “wings usually exit the ring symmetrically (as a pair of wings) but a single “wing” can often exit one side of the ring or the other.  There may also be other kinds of decoration on the bobbin. See above.
    OLD MAID BOBBINS (Wright P126)
  • (Wright )  … plain and particularly slender. (p126)
  • (Whiting) … the plain slim old maid.  These must have been slight and straight and un-ornamented to begin with. (p 220)
  • (Freeman)  In photo caption only (p32)
  • (Huetson)  Plain wood bobbins which are thinner and more slender in design.
  • (Hopewell)  plain slim type (p180.
  • (Bellerby)Thin undecorated and uncurvaceous, a very good bobbin for work with fine thread.
  • (Springett C & D)  Very slim and plain bobbin. (p7)
  • (Bullock)  Plain turned…extra thin. (83)
    • Comment: No problems.  I propose the following description:
    OLD MAID BOBBIN. A plain turned, slender wooden bobbin.  It can have a plain turned shape,. but no turned decoration.
    MOTHER-IN-BABE.  (Wright P126)


     Comment: Here is the first major difference between the authors.  Wright and Huetson describe a hidden bobbin  i.e. without the Cathedral Window piercing.  Springett D. calls it MOTHER-AND-BABE.  I propose to tackle these differences later in the article.

    QUILLS. (Wright p126)


    Comment: I would like to see a convention of using the origin of the bobbin if it is known or can be distinguished, i.e. using the terms Huntingdon trolley or Bedfordshire trailer in those cases.  I propose the following description:

    BEDFORDSHIRE TRAILERS. Sometimes known as a trolly A fat, bulbous bobbin, nearly always wooden that is distinguished by having pewter rings that fit loosely in grooves around the shank.  These pewter rings are called “gingles” but are sometimes spelled “jingles”  there may be up to nine gingles but five or seven are the usual maximum,
    TALLIES.   (Wright p126) Comment: The term Tally (singular) or Tallies (plural) are both acceptable.  The earlier Tallies had a tin band but on later tallies the band was of pewter.  I propose the following description:
    TALLY.  A wooden bobbin , not unduly fancy turned, that has a broad  (1 or 1.25 inch) pewter or tin band around the shank.  The band was often engraved by various methods with the owners name.
    YAK BOBBINS (Wright p127)  Comment: No problems here.  I propose that we adopt Huetsons description.
    YAK.  A  larger bobbin (about five and a half to six and a half inches long), and thicker in proportion.  these bobbins are generally plain but sometimes a little bit of decoration  in the form of ornamental turning  is to be found on them
    GOLD LACE BOBBINS (Wright P127) Comment:  Probably it is better to use the term “metal thread” as a generic term. I propose that we adopt Freeman’s description.
    METAL THREAD BOBBINS.  Sometimes known as gold lace or gold thread bobbins.  Large wooden bobbins, single neck section forming a reel to hold the metal thread used in making gold thread lace.

    COW AND CALF OR JACK-IN-THE-BOX. (Wright p127)


    Comment: Again there are differences here as to a) whether the bobbin is attached or loose and b) which of the two types describes what.  See also Cathedral window above.  There is clearly a great deal of confusion over the terms that we use for these and church window bobbins (above)  I have written a separate article that discusses these difficulties in detail.  This article is already long and I am proposing to just insert my proposed descriptions for these groups of bobbins without including the discussion that has led to these proposals.

    Historically, we must accept that the term church window became a generic term for bobbins that were pierced, contained small bobbins or other objects, or were empty; but historical accuracy does not require us to live with confusion and that, it certainly does.
     

    CHURCH WINDOW.  A bobbin that has window-shaped cuts that you can see straight through

    MOTHER IN BABE.  A bobbin that has window-shaped cuts which contain a small bobbin or insert of that shape.

    OTHER INSERTS.  A bobbin that has window-shaped cuts which contains inserts other than a small bobbin or insert of that shape.

    JACK IN THE BOX; A hollow bobbin that contains a small loose bobbin that can only be seen by dis-assembling the bobbin. i.e. unscrewing it or pulling it apart

    COW IN CALF; A hollow bobbin that has a small bobbin inside that is revealed only when dis-assembled by pulling it apart or unscrewing it.  The small bobbin is attached and not loose and may be attached to either the top or the bottom of the two parts.


    Without wishing to add to the confusion, I am personally attracted to the term “Lantern” as an alternative to “Other Inserts.”  If this were to be adopted the contents of the lantern would need to be specified.

    HUGUENOT  (Wright p129)


     Comment: I think that we can say that these bobbins did not have spangles originally.  Ideally I would like to us to adopt the term Huguenot following Wrights oral history findings, however I think that modern usage demands that we accept either of the two terms.  I propose the following description:

    HUGUENOT.  A South Bucks bobbin. Sometimes known as thumpers.  A large, rather bulbous, single necked bobbin. Clearly larger than the average South Bucks bobbin.  Plain turned but sometimes has wooden domino spots inserted. Un spangled.
    WIRE BEADED BOBBINS  (Wright p129)
     Comment: I propose that we adopt Bullocks description:
    WIRE BEADED.  Sometimes known as beaded, or bead decorated bobbins. Tiny beads threaded on brass wire and wound round the shank  in spirals or other patterns in grooves cut into the shaft of the bobbin,  in the same way as the plain wire.  Occasionally the whole shank  was covered in this way


    BIRDCAGE BOBBINS  (Wright p129)

     Comment: I propose that we adopt Freeman’s description.
     
    BIRD-CAGE BOBBINS.  Shank hollowed and cut  into openwork compartments each containing a miniature bobbin or beads kept in position by wire coiled around the shank to form the "bars" of the cage
    Note:
    We have now exhausted the list which Wright gives us and we turn to Freeman  for the next list of names.

    PLAIN SHANK

     Comment: I suggest that plain is plain and that the description which Huetson adds is referring to a screw thread bobbin.  I think that it would be difficult to differentiate between plain shank and an old maid purely on their relative thinness.  On some occasions this might well be possible and therefore the thicker or normal diameter plain shank bobbin would be termed the “plain shank”. I propose the following description:
    PLAIN SHANK.  A plain turned bobbin of “normal” diameter.  i.e. is not as slim as an Old Maid bobbin
    TURNED SHANK Comment:  I have difficulty in accepting the term “Ornamentally or ornamental turned” as this infers to a wood turner that a special type of lathe or attachment to a lathe has been used to create the turned design.  I would prefer the tern “fancy turned” or “spindle turned”  ( preferably the former though the latter is a more accurate technical term) with a further description of the type of decoration used by the maker.

    I also have some doubts as to the use of the term “baluster”.  There are very few bobbins that can technically have this term applied to them. I have argued in greater detail the issue of the term “baluster” in another article.  I again state that “fancy turned” is my preference.

    I propose the following description:

    FANCY TURNED.  Some times referred to as ornamentally, ornamental, baluster turned.  A bobbin with decorative turning as opposed to plain turned
    INCISED DECORATION. Comment: I think we should adopt Freeman’s description.
    INCISED DECORATION.  A bobbin decorated with coloured dots, dashes or other incised ornamentation.

    BANDED.
    (Freeman) Decorated with coloured bands. (p34)
     Comment: No problem.

    COLOURED.


    Comment.  I do not think the term mottled should be used in conjunction with coloured, as it refers to the staining on bobbins (mostly Honitons) with nitric acid.
    I propose the following description:

    COLOURED. The term “coloured” may be applied when the whole of the shank or the whole of the bobbin is coloured.  If it is coloured in part then other descriptions should apply i.e. coloured bands.
    MOTTLED  Comment: I prefer to keep the term Mottled associated only with staining with nitric acid ( aqua fortis)  I propose the following:
    MOTTLED:  Staining with aqua fortis ( Nitric Acid)
    SPLICED. Comment: I propose that we adopt Bullocks description with a small augmentation.
    SPLICED:  Made by two different coloured woods being spliced together, usually diagonally.  Sometimes wood and bone  were spliced and occasionally metal riveted.  Splicing was also a method of repairing a bobbin.  It can also be used to sandwich a number or a single different coloured wood etc to form an attractive design.
    SECTIONED.
    (Freeman)  Made in sections in contrasting woods or wood and bone. (p34)

    (Bellerby)   Made from layers of varying coloured woods, mostly rather heavy and often without spangles. (p21)

    (Bullock) were composed, as their name implies, of sections of light and dark coloured woods. (p83)
    Comment:  I propose the following descritpion:
    SECTIONED.  Made in sections of contrasting woods.  These sections are usually horizontal as opposed to a diagonal splice.
    TINSEL.


    Comment.  I think that we should use the term “fairings” for these bobbins the other terms describe the type of decoration rather than the type of bobbin. I propose that we adopt Springetts (D & C) description.
    FAIRING.  Also known as tinsel, tinsel and wire, tinsel inlay, tinsel spiral.  A bobbin inlaid with tinsel (cut from thin sheets of metal, often coloured) in narrow grooves or in wide bands around the shank.  The term used to apply to any gaudy item that was bought from a fair, or a present brought home from a fair.  Many bobbin makers sold their bobbins at such events.

    ADAPTED TYPES.
    (Freeman)  Bobbin from other English or foreign  lace making districts were sometimes provided with spangles and used by East Midland workers. (p35)
     Comment.  No problems.  I propose that we use the above description:
    ADAPTED TYPES. Bobbin from other English or foreign  lace making districts were sometimes provided with spangles and used by East Midland workers.

    NATIVE TYPES
    (Freeman)  … bobbins being copied by natives of other countries where lace making was introduced by missionaries  and others.  had characteristics of art from that country. (p35)

    Comment.  No problems. I propose that we use the above description:
    NATIVE TYPES. bobbins being copied by natives of other countries where lace making was introduced by missionaries  and others.  had characteristics of art from that country.

    Note
    Having now exhausted the lists of Freeman we move on to those mentioned by Huetson.

    DOMINO.
    (Huetson)  Tiny indentations  are made on the shank of the bobbin  with the point of a fine drill and these are then filled with colour.  red, dark blue and black being the colours generally used….they do in fact very much resemble a domino. (p107)

    (Hopewell)  His picture is described as  “Blue and red dots on wood”.   (p17)

    (Bellerby)  Is self explanatory with its little coloured dots, as is.

    (Springett C & D)  A bone bobbin  with spots arranged in the same way  as the spots on a domino. (p7)

    (Bullock)  (Bone) Had tiny drilled holes filled with colours such as red, dark blue or black.  They also had coloured grooved bands, indentations and fancy marks. (p84)
     Comments: I propose that we adopt Huetsons description.

    DOMINO.  Tiny indentations  are made on the shank of the bobbin ( mainly on bone bobbins)  with the point of a fine drill and these are then filled with colour.  red, dark blue and black being the colours generally used….they do in fact very much resemble a domino


    PEWTER INLAY.

    Comment: I suggest that we use the term Pewter inlay as a generic term to describe pewter designs that do not fall into the established categories of pewter decorated bobbins. i.e. Bedfordshire fly.  I propose the following description:
    PEWTER INLAY.  A generic term to embrace all types of pewter inlay or to cover designs of pewter inlay that do not have a specific name.
    PIN SPOT INLAY.  Comment: I suggest that we adopt Springetts description slightly modified. COMPOUND INLAY
    (Huetson)  Two or three different forms of pewter inlay on the same bobbin (p111)
     Comment: No comment.  I propose the following description:
    COMPOUND INLAY.  Two or three different recognised designs (i.e. have a name) on the same bobbin

    BOUND BOBBINS.

    Comment: I prefer the term wire bound bobbins and then specify the decoration. I suggest we adopt Huetsons description.
     
    WIRE BOUND BOBBINS.  Sometimes known as wired, spiral wire. brass bound. bound.  A bobbin bound with fine wire.  Occasionally the whole shank is covered with close windings, but more often it is but a small section and / or an open spiral design along its length that are so treated.   The wire is recessed slightly into the bobbin so that it is level or just below the surface. Brass wire is almost always used.
    POCKET KNIFE.


    Comment:  I think that Whittled would be a more internationally acceptable term and suggest we use Huetsons description.

    WHITTLED.  Some times known as shut knife, pocket knife.  Made and shaped by hand as distinct from those turned on a lathe


    THREE-IN-ONE.


    Comment: I like Springetts term Grandmother. It follows the “mother and babe” familial reference. I also like his description.
    GRANDMOTHER BOBBINS.

    Sometimes known as three-in-one.  The bobbin contains a baby which has a baby inside it.
    Note:
    We have now exhausted Huetsons nomenclature and pass now to Hopewell whose only different word is;
    ODDITY. 
    This is a term for bobbins that do not fit into those that he knows names for.  (p18) (In fact the picture shows a shank formed with five beads, which whilst it is rare it does have a term in current use to describe it, i.e. “beaded shank” ( as opposed to wire beaded))
    Comment: I am happy to use the term “oddity” but probably the catch all of miscellaneous would be just as good.

    Next we examine Bellerby.
    BALUSTER.

    A generic name for turned shaped bobbins. (p21)


    Not mentioned by other authors except as a form of turned decoration, not as a type or class of bobbin.  See the discussion above.
    SOUTH BUCKS.

    Heavy bobbins, usually with no spangles , single head, usually good wood nicely turned some times called BODGERS.   They were made of leftover pieces of wood from chair making. (p21)
    Comment: I would like the advice of others as to the use of the term bodgers.  I have only found reference to this term in Bellerby.

    CHIPCARVED.

    Not turned on a lathe but carved with a knife or chisel in geometric patterns. (p21)
    Comment: This is a technically accurate description of this type of decoration.
    I Propose the following description.
    CHIPCARVED.  Decoration not turned on a lathe but carved with a knife or chisel in geometric patterns.

    Note:
    We now come to Springett D & C.
    SCREWTHREAD

    (Springett d & C)  A very tight spiral groove running up the shank. (p7)
    Comment: No problems
    SPIRAL.
    (Springett D & C)  Spiral decoration may follow a right or left hand direction. (p7)
    Comment: No problems
    BEAD SHANK. BEES KNEES.
    The shank is decorated with “a series of steps or “knees”.  it is suggested that this traditional bobbins resemblance  to the bee’s leg or “knee’ gave its name.” (p27)
    Comment: No problems
    WIRED LOOSE RING.
    Loose rings run upon a center spindle  which had been decorated with a spiral of wire and tinsel looking like a miniature barbers pole. (p37)
    Comment: No problems
    DOUBLE FAIRING.
    A right handed and left handed spiral groove each filled with coloured tinsel and crossing one another regularly, creating a plaid form of pattern. (p42)
    Comment: No problems
    INLAID BOBBINS, SOLID CENTERS AND CONSTRUCTED CENTRES.
    Good close-grained wood is used for the top and tail and a more attractive material displayed between them.
    These can be solid such as burrwood and plastics or constructed  e.g. Tunbridge mosaic. (p53)
    Comment: No problems
    CANDY WIRED.
    A parallel pair of wires snake around the bobbin body.  There is something most satisfying about those two tramlines of wire , a naturally easy form  (p81)
    Comment: No problems
    CATERPILLAR.
    A most descriptive name for a bobbin whose decoration creeps  lumpily up the body.  Each small decoration may be decorated with a drilled dot or left plain as one chooses. [  This decoration is illustrated rather than described.  It is a bead followed by a narrow ridge all the way up the shank.] (p81)
    Comment: No problems
    TWO START DOUBLE FAIRING.
    This bobbin is illustrated and not described. [A bobbin with a left and right hand spiral fairing intersecting regularly along the shank.] (p91)
    Comment: No problems
    ARROWS.
    A coloured decoration of opposing arrows  (p87) The illustration shows five rows of lines with arrows going round the shank.  Each row of arrows is going in an opposite direction.
    Comment: No problems
    CHEVRON BEADED.
    This is illustrated and not described.  A left and right hand spiral is cut into the shank and a beaded wire is wound round the shank with beads dropped off in each groove to form a chevron design. (p94)
    Comment: No problems
     
    CONCLUSION:
    Whilst a number of very real difficulties in bobbin nomenclature have been identified these are but few compared with the large number of bobbin types that exist.  The proposals that I have made for the names and descriptions that we should adopt are open for discussion amongst the lace bobbin makers, collectors, historians and antique dealers as well as other interested persons.  Incidentally not all known types of bobbins are covered here, only those mentioned in the literature under scrutiny.  For example, I am not surprised that the term Leptig was not found in my literature search as it was a term invented by the Springetts! (Which I am happy to accept)
    For the most part I have tried to put weight on the historical names and descriptions or names and descriptions that reflect what could be called the “ name of the bobbin” rather than just the “type of decoration”. (i.e. Bedforshire-fly says more to a bobbin collector / historian than a butterfly.)  This may appear to be pedantic when it could be argued that to say “butterfly”  is to automatically imply “Bedfordshire”.  But to use the full term to me appears more correct.
    For those bobbin types that do not pose a possible confusion in terms, it is merely a matter of personal taste or custom, or in some cases technical accuracy as in the case of the term “chip carved”, it is an accepted and clearly descriptive technical term and thus should be used.  With regard to the term “ornamental”, from a technical point of view it is incorrect to use it for a turned tool such as a lace bobbin, but common usage within bobbin circles might find it an acceptable and descriptive term that they understand regardless of the technical accuracy of the word.  The English language is very flexible!

    For my part I am happy to put up these proposals to lace makers and bobbin collectors for discussion.  I am not the kind of person that is hurt through healthy constructive disagreement, and I am more than open to change my mind for a well argued reason.  Please feel free to disagree and even to criticise.  My address is.

    Brian Lemin
    11/28 Deaves Road.
    Cooranbong.
    NSW. 2265
    Australia.

    e-mail brian_l@tpg.com.au

    REFERENCES.
     
  • Wright, Thomas The Romance of the Lace Pillow.  H.H.Armsrtong. Olney 1919. Reprinted  Ruth Bean Carlton 1982.
  • Whiting Gertrude.  Old-Time Tools and Toys of Needlework.  Dover Publications inc.  New York. reprint 1971. Originally published by Columbia University Press. New York  1928 under the title Tools and Toys of Stitchery.
  • Freeman, Charles. Pillow Lace in the East Midlands. Borough of Luton Museum an Art Gallery. 1958  Reprinted 1980.
  • Huetson, T. L. Lace and Lace Bobbins. A history and Collectors Guide. David and Charles. Newton Abbot. 1973.
  • Hopewell, Jeffrey.  Pillow Lace and Bobbins. Shire Publications. Princes Risborough. 1975. Reprinted 1994.
  • Bellerby, Denys.  Lace Making Bobbins.    Lace   . A Series of 9 Articles.  Published around 1978.  (The exact reference is unknown to me as I only have photocopies.)
  • Springett, Christine and David. Success to the Lace Pillow.  Privately Published. C & D Springett.  Rugby. 1981.
  • Bullock, Alice-May.  Lace and Lace Making.  B. T. Baysford Ltd. London. 1981.
  • Springett, David.  Turning Lace Bobbins.  Privately Published . C & D Springett.  Rugby. 1995
  • Nottinham. P Keeping the Record Straight.  Lace Issue 77 Jan 1995. Pg 31

    •