﻿USES OF COMMERCIAL WOODS. 35 



importance, given because of its hardness and smoothness, was in 

 the homemade spinning wheels found in most pioneer cabins where 



flax was spun. These were known as " little wheels " to distinguish 

 them from the " big wheels " employed almost exclusively in spinning 

 wool. The reel, a companion piece to the spinning wheel, generally 

 had maple for the crosspiece on which the thread was wound. 



The old-fashioned shoemaker fastened his soles with maple pegs 

 when he could not get pegs of paper birch. Before they were split 

 and pointed by machinery he whittled them by hand. Lasts of 

 maple were the usual thing, though other woods answered very well. 



Maple saddletrees were part of the stock in trade of most saddle 

 makers in pioneer times, as at present. The millwright made his 

 cogwheels then, and the teeth of the homemade pinions and trundle- 

 heads were frequently of maple, provided they were not to be ex- 

 posed to dampness. Maple filled a number of places in early ship- 

 building, though it was of less importance than some other timbers. 

 Maple knees, keels, and keelsons are mentioned in shipyard supplies. 

 Maple broom handles were in use nearly a century ago, and their 

 handsome appearance and the good service they gave were subject 

 of special mention. 



Maple has been a furniture material ever since furniture has been 

 made in this country. Chair makers seem to have been among the 

 first to discover its good qualities. When mahogany was the fashion- 

 able furniture wood curly maple was a choice inlay. It is not un- 

 usual to find antique pieces of rare beauty and generations old. The 

 white wood contrasts well with the darker mahogany. Sometimes 

 sugar maple was used, sometimes red maple. 



Maple lumber in early times was not much used for building pur- 

 poses. An occasional exception was found in kitchen floors. The 

 boards were from 6 inches to a foot wide, wore smooth, and became 

 very hard. Service was what was wanted, and maple gave it. 



Wooden dishes were comparatively more common in the years 

 succeeding the earliest settlement of the country than they are now, 

 because then many persons were under the necessity of making nearly 

 all of their household articles. John Lawson, whose writings were 

 published in 1714, gives maple a place of honor as material of which 

 " dishes, trenchers, and spinning wheels " were made in the Carolinas. 



It was among the earliest of the hardwoods exported, and special 

 mention is made of its use at Keighley, England, in the manufacture 

 of washing machines and mangles. 1 



The Iroquois Indians of New York made paddles, spoons, and 

 ladles of sugar maple. The only recorded attempt of the American 

 Indians in manufacturing and employing cannon to attack forts 

 occurred during the siege of Fort Henry (now- Wheeling, W. Va.) 



1 The Trees of Commerce, William Stevenson, edition 1008. 



