Shuttle lamp at Atria-Draper Place

    Thanks to Gert Callery for the directions. Sorry this didn't
    come out better, but probably anyone clever enough to make
    one of these is sharp enough to fill in the blanks. There were
    lots of them around years ago. There are two of them at
    Draper Place and two at the Little Red Shop Museum. You
    can usually find shuttles for sale on ebay.

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    Shortly after I put this page up, I heard from Brian Dean who had found a shuttle lamp for sale on Craigslist.
    The picture above is from that ad. The text below is what went with it. I thought it might be of interest to people
    who find their way to this page.

    UP FOR SALE IS A VERY UNIQUE FOLK ART ANTIQUE. THIS IS FROM AN ESTATE SALE IN NEW BEDFORD
    MASSACHUSETTS BY A WORLD WAR 2 VETERAN WHO WORKED AT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY BEFORE
    GOING OFF TO WAR. WHEN HE" LUCKILY " CAME HOME, HE CHOSE TO DO WOODWORKING AS MEANS
    TO KEEP PEACE IN HIS HEART AND SOUL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JOHN CREATED WAS THIS LAMP
    FROM DRAPER SHUTTLES, THAT WERE USED IN THE WEAVING LOOMS BACK IN THE DAY.

    THE HOMETOWN OF THE DRAPER SHUTTLE IS HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS. THE THING THAT IS
    UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS THERE IS ANOTHER MATERIAL BESIDES WOOD THAT THE DRAPER SHUTTLES
    ARE MADE OF AND I'M NOT AN EXPERT BY AN MEANS BUT IT LOOKS LIKE BONE OR SIMILAR
    SUBSTANCE. THESE ARE FROM THE END OF THE WHALING DAY ERA SO CARVED BONE WAS VERY
    COMMON. I'M DOING RESEARCH BUT THE ONLY THING I FOUND SO FAR IS AN ARTICLE THAT SAID
    THAT THE WEAVING SHUTTLES WERE MADE IN THOUSANDS OF TYPES , SOME ACCORDING TO EASE
    OF USE, AND OTHERS DESIGNED ACCORDING TO THE WHIM OF THE WEAVER.

    EITHER WAY, THIS LAMP IS VERY UNUSUAL AND A PIECE OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS
    HISTORY. I WILL GO BACK TO GET BETTER PICS OF THE SHUTTLE PART OF THE LAMP TO SEE IF WE
    CAN SAY FOR SURE WHAT IT IS.

    Anyone interested in making a shuttle lamp - read the following that I received from Ken Crowther.

    Hi Dan,

    I was looking through some more of my dad’s things. I found (3) of the triangular shuttle lamp bases. They
    are complete and unfinished, in perfect condition. They look like the material is mahogany. I also have (9)
    shuttles, most with bobbins. I’m not sure what to do with them, if you know anyone who might be interested
    in them, please let them know, I’d be willing to sell them I think. I’d prefer they go to a passionate new owner...

    Ken