Taynton Metal Detecting Club
The Gannets

Introduction

Spindle Whorls

A spindle was a simple hand tool used for spinning wool into yarn. It consisted of a small wooden axle weighted at one end with a circular lead whorl. The whorl or whorle helped to make the spindle spin.

Steelyard Weights

A steelyard was an early tool for measuring weights. It was introduced to Britain by the Romans and was used for many centuries due to its robustness and accuracy. The object to be weighed was placed at the short end of a suspended, pivoted beam, and a lead weight moved along the calibrated longer arm of the beam until it balanced the load.

Loom Weights

Lead ovaloid cylinders with a small central hole through which a thread can be placed to hold it straight on a loom.

Coin Weights

A metal disc made the same weight has a particular denomination of valuable coin. Used to detect conterfits.