[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

They are the right shape for spools

Are they eck, any wool or cotton would slide sideways and get trapped in the pivot pins, all bobbins have a flange at the end, and straight bodies to stop the thread coming off, look at your sewing machine, and the thread holder that fits into the shuttle underneath. Bulloughs used to make all kinds of machines for handling cotton threads, and I never saw any bobbin or spool that shape.
That object has nowt to do with the wool or cotton industry. Its some sort of tensioning device.
Retlaw.