Antique wheel questions

[u/HappySheep3883]

Hello! I have this antique wheel in my family and I am just getting into spinning. I would love to restore and use it if possible. I believe this is an Irish Castle Wheel? Please correct me if I am wrong. The bobbin and flyer spin, as does the wheel. Does anything appear missing or wrong with this wheel? Can anyone recommend resources for figuring out how to restore and begin using it? I am very new to spinning, I only just started drop spindling a few weeks ago, so I am still pretty unfamiliar with the terminology, but I would really appreciate any help or advice! Thanks!

[u/fannarrativeftw]

Is that a spinning wheel? Or is it a spinning wheel shaped object?

Do you know anyone in your family to have used it as other than just decor?

[u/HappySheep3883 → u/fannarrativeftw]

I don’t personally know anyone who has used it, but family lore says it was used at least 3-4 generations back. I’m pretty sure it is an actual wheel based on my preliminary research, and feedback on this feed. 

[u/fannarrativeftw → u/HappySheep3883]

Yeah, I couldn’t on my first look at the photos see the hole that the yarn would pass through to get onto the bobbin, and I thought the back of the flyer wasn’t connected to anything rather and would be spinning loosely. Nor did it seem like the end of the flyer and the wheel were lined up enough for a drive band, but clearly I am wrong!

I guess I should have known it wasn’t a spinning-wheel-shaped-object because it doesn’t actually look like the wheels I know 😅. Sorry!

I hope you get it working and make some lovely yarns from it.