Re: Vintage Giant Float Winder & Giant Floats
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 3:18 am
That is lovely Paul, well spotted! 
What you failed to mention is this winder was sold by Jeff Della Mura and is on page 225 of his excellent book Winder Keepers.Paul F wrote: ↑Tue Jan 09, 2024 9:55 am I have recently purchased another vintage float winder for my collection.
When I saw it advertised with the dimensions, it was hard in my mind to imagine how big it was to be, until it arrived.
I was very interested in the three floats it came with, in particular a very early Zephyr 8A paper float circa 1920's
The only problem, it is too big for my display cabinet, so it resides on my TV stand shelf.
13 3/4" long x 4" wide with bone rollers, probably made from rose wood.
I unwound the floats, to see what tackle was attached, and my guess the almost 11" swan quill on thick strong gut, with a wire gimp hook trace, and the 10" Porcupine quill on a silk trace with a short gut fine hook length are original and circa around 1900, the Zephyr 8A has a very early label, so will be circa 1920-25, so added a little later?
Just to compare, the giant alongside a typical standard winder, half the size.
Alongside another large winder of 10", with 2 early giant Nottingham sliders, circa 1890
An early advert for Zephyr floats in a book published in 1920
