Towards a Standard Nomenclature for Lace Bobbins.
THE "COW-IN-CALF" – "JACK-IN-THE-BOX" CONFUSION.
INTRODUCTION.

The names of lace bobbins are notoriously difficult to define. History records a great deal about lace making history, its rise and fall, the fashions, the results of census and more than a few Acts of Parliament, but when it comes to the tools of the trade the humble lace bobbin is treated rather scantily.

We have to accept that some of the reasons for this are that we are dealing with a period of history where ordinary people did not travel very much, thus local names remained local, and that we are dealing with what is essentially social history which was not well documented.

It is clear that names of bobbins changed over periods of time and that the same bobbin may well have different names in almost adjoining villages. They certainly often had different names in different counties. What is not clear is why this would be so? Whilst the lace workers did not travel far from their village or town they certainly had visitors from around and about.

COULD LOCAL BOBBIN NAMES HAVE BEEN SHARED?

First there were the lace buyers, though they did not range far in their dealings with the lace makers certainly travelled extensively to sell the lace that they had bought. It would be reasonable to assume that they met with other lace buyers from different parts of the country. It could just as easily be assumed that they talked only of lace and not lace bobbins, but there was at least a chance for cross-fertilization of bobbin names.

Then there were the lace bobbin makers themselves. Again they were comparatively local, but there were more than one maker in each district and the lacemakers bought from all of them, so again there was a possibility of bobbin names being discussed.

There were the fairs where lace bobbins were sold. It appears that the most popular of the bobbins sold at these fair were those called "fairings", rather gaudy, tinselled bobbins. But the fair people were indeed itinerants and would have had the opportunity to know the names of bobbins from much farther afield.

Perhaps all this did happen as I have speculated but in the end each district kept its special name for a bobbin and those who travelled used the name that was familiar to the lace workers in that district.

One other point that should be raised is that it would appear that many of the writers on historical lace and lace making copied from each other rather than engaging in original research. Thus we can not be fully sure that what the writers say is necessarily accurate.

COW AND CALF OR JACK-IN-THE-BOX.

The above bobbins, along with "church window" bobbins, probably give us the most difficulty with regard to confusing nomenclature. Firstly we should review what the published literature says on these bobbins. Each quote is dealt with in chronological order of publication of the book from which they are taken from. Their proposals are in italics.
 


Again there are differences here as to, a) whether the bobbin is attached or loose and, b) which of the two types describes what. There is clearly a great deal of confusion over the terms that we use for these bobbins.

One other observation should be made. From the available illustrations it would appear that the only illustrations we have of historical bobbins that we have which shows a loose bobbin inside is a South Bucks "Thumper". The significance of this is discussed below.

A LOOK AT THE COW AND CALF / JACK IN THE BOX.


Firstly I would like to address the basic terminology of whether it be Cow in Calf or cow and calf.

These the alternative that present:


SOME PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE DESCRIPTIONS

Firstly, it is clear that these bobbin shanks are hollow and that this hollow can not be seen from the outside of the bobbin (As opposed to church Windows that can be observed externally) There fore we can say that these bobbins have "a hollow shank that is not visible from external examination".

We can also say that they are made from wood or brass.

It is almost certain that those made of wood are made in a sectioned manner, i.e. two contrasting colours of wood are used.

The above are common to both types of bobbins.

But now we come to the difficult part, what names do we give to the remaining constructional features of these two types of bobbins?

For the cow and/in calf I propose to use the "placental model", it seems to me that this is a model that could easily be understood by lace makers and would make some sense to the lacemakers. Therefore we would call a bobbin that had the calf fixed to the pull out part would be the pregnant cow and thus called cow in calf and the bobbin that had the loose calf inside would be called the cow and calf.

From the above section we could possibly have a nomenclature that would fit nicely into the East Midland genre of bobbins.

As for the Jack in the Box, I would like to stick my neck out and apply this to the South Bucks bobbin that has the top or bottom pull out portion and the loose bobbin. My reasoning for this is that those writers that I have quoted, whilst not neglecting genres other than the East Midland variety, certainly do concentrate on East Midlands.  They naturally applied names they knew across the board.  Another observation that I have made is that I have not seen a South Bucks bobbin that has an attached "calf" to either of the pullout sections.  That does not mean that there are none out there somewhere.

South Bucks bobbins are different to East Midland bobbins and have very different names, even when the same bobbin is used in areas other than the South Bucks region. The South Bucks bobbins were made in a small area in the Cotswolds, quite far enough away from the East Midland areas to have a degree of isolation. Therefore I think it is quite reasonable for this bobbin to have a distinct name.


Summary

 1. I am proposing that the names Cow in calf and Cow and Calf be restricted to descriptions relating to East Midland bobbins only.
2. That the term Cow "in" Calf be used when the "calf or babe" is attached to one of the pull out sections.
3. That the term Cow "and" Calf be used when the " calf or Babe" is loose inside a hollow in the bobbin. (as opposed to a church window babe)
4. That the term Jack in the Box be reserved for South Bucks bobbins that have a loose bobbin inside a hollow shaft.

Conclusion.
Frankly the strongest argument according to the evidence, is that the two names are interchangeable. All the proposals above are, a) speculative and, b) offered only for the purposes of developing a standard nomenclature for lace bobbins. However, whilst history may present possible confusion there is no need for us to continue this confusion and we should agree on a standard nomenclature for these bobbins, whilst at the same time acknowledging the historical derivations and difficulties..

 
 
 

References.

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./ 79

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

Nottingham. P Keeping the Record Straight. Lace Issue 77 Jan 1995. Pg 31

I look forward to your comments on this speculation

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

Email: mailto:brian_l@tpg.com.au