Tatting Shuttles

No shuttle tatter would be complete without their shuttle collections! I am pleased and proud to share my few shuttles with everyone. If you can give me any details about ANY of them, feel free to post that in my comments!

These are my two wooden shuttles.

The top one is my David Reed Smith shuttle. It is made of Purpleheart and has a brass hook. I ordered it online. It tats well, and holds A LOT of thread!!!! Great for larger projects!

The second one, I found in an antique store. I know it is not an antique but it is one of my favorites to tat with! It holds a moderate amount of thread although it is a bit hard to wind because the openings are lined up close to the top of the shuttle. It is made of one solid piece of wood--including the center post!

These shuttles are ones that I have found in various antique stores.

The top one came from a store in Northern Illinois along I-70. It has one slightly open end. I haven't tatted with it yet, but it was my first find in an antique store! I was so proud that I bought it! I paid $10 for it.

The second shuttle came from an antique store in Paducah, KY. It was in with a bunch of sewing stuff and marked with the huge price of $2.50. Of course I bought it! LOL! I have seen this type of shuttle referred to as a pumpkinseed shuttle --due to it's shape and the raised center. I don't know if that is what they were called though.

The bottom shuttle came from an antique store in Benton, IL. I found it hiding in the back of a display case with a hairpin lace loom thingy (I don't know anything about hairpin lace! Sorry). It is kind of beat up and dirty looking....but I have tatted with it and it feels nice. I liked the feel of it and didn't mind paying $6.00 for it!

This is the treasure in my collection. It is the tatting shuttle that my great-grandmother used. My grandmother passed it to me recently. It means a lot to me to have this.

I do know that this is a Gloria shuttle made by the McCoy and Jones Co, of Chicago. They were made from approx 1928 to 1945. The smaller shuttles, which this one is, could come with or without the point. Mine has the point.