90-Year-Old Makes Spinning Wheels

90-Year-Old Makes Spinning Wheels FARM HOME Miscellaneous Among the nearly 150 spinning wheels Willard Leinonen made in the past 30 years one stands out He put eight wheels together after an English woman told him there was a six-unit wheel in her country The idea was based on centuries-old double spinning wheels called courting or gossip wheels The unusual spinning wheel earned Leinonen some brief local fame but most of the 90-year-old’s spinning wheels have quietly left his home shop to go to spinners across the country and even to Africa and Mexico Leinonen got started making spinning wheels when he was close to retirement age and working at a pioneer park where there was a spinning wheel that didn’t work “I took it home and made new parts got it to work and played with it until I learned how to spin ” Leinonen says After he made a wheel for his wife he continued making more giving many away to family and friends and selling some He’s added his own features and designs over the years and now builds a smaller version that takes about 20 hrs vs 40 hrs for a traditional wheel The wheels are made of a variety of hardwood scraps Leinonen gets from cabinetmakers Most wheels are stained or clear-coated but he’s also painted some red white and blue Like the spinning wheels immigrants disassembled and packed in trunks Leinonen’s spinning wheels can also be taken apart “It’s just a hobby ” Leinonen says and he doesn’t actively market his work But FARM SHOW readers interested in purchasing one can contact him for more information Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Willard Leinonen 100 Kendale Ave S Annandale Minn 55302 ph 320 274-0910

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.