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Wheels & Throwing
Studio Potters
Wheels
Robert has a variety of electric wheels in
his studio including a Shimpo, Soldner, Brent, and Pacifica.
Manual wheels in his studio include a custom made
"Standing Treadle" and a
"Leach Treadle" |
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Many production potters,
who spend long hours at the
wheel,
throw in ergonomic positions which may include
standing or sitting upright next to a raised wheel. |
Robert added leg extensions to potters wheels
making them very
comfortable on which to throw. This particular wheel, a Pacifica, has a strong
molded splash pan on which he rests his forearms for leverage.
After a back injury, Robert taught himself a way to use good posture when
at the wheel. He accomplishes this by keeping his back vertically
aligned and his pelvis tilted. The unusual wooden platform he built under
his chair is the key to a comfortable days work. |
Potters
Wheels
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Shimpo Wheel
Bristol, Vermont 1983
These were the industrial potters wheels of Japan in the 1960's.
They
are rugged wheels with a physical friction drive
(cone and ring).The
wheel head can turn freely, when
not engaged. This enables it to be used as a sturdy turntable. |
Alpine Wheel
Bristol, Vermont 1991
Robert throwing on an Alpine gear driven wheel.
In 1991 he was just starting to experiment raising the wheel height,
shown in this photo, using
cement blocks.
This was a first step in helping prevent back strain. |
"Improvising"
New Zealand
2002Robert improvised an ergonomic wheel
when demonstrating at the New Zealand Potters Conference in 2002.
The wheel was raised onto cement blocks and the chair received its tilt
by taping a wood block under the back legs.
Robert learned to
throw with better posture by keeping his pelvis tilted, and raising the height of his wheel, to keep his
back vertically aligned. |
Pacifica Wheel
Bristol, Vermont
Throwing in a semi standing position is most comfortable for Robert.He can balance his weight between legs and seat, if the chair is tilted.
This keeps his spine aligned and causes him to sit with
good posture.
Robert gets the seat angle by mounting an office chair to a wooden
platform, that is raised in back.
The entire box will tilt forward when he centers himself over the
wheel.
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Potters Wheels
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1971
U.V.M., Burlington, Vermont
Robert took this photo in 1971 of a potter working in the clay studio at
the University of Vermont.
The wheel was attached to the ceiling and used for making tall thin pots.
This technique has the potter working with gravity rather than against
it. |
1971
Shimpo WheelRobert demonstrating throwing to a group of students as part
of the Vermont Crafts in Schools program.
In the 1970's he threw in the low, bent over position seen here.
Back problems in later years caused him to re-think how to approach throwing
on the
potters wheel. |
1986
Ben Owen III Pottery
Robert and Christine were traveling through North Carolina when this photo
was taken of a potter who is standing for comfort. A "Brent wheel" is
sitting inside a 150 gallon plastic
trough which creates a large splash basin for catching trimmings and slop.
The foot petal is on the table and
controlled by the potters hand. Therefore he does not stand off balance by trying
to use a foot petal on the floor. |
1998
Bill Klock
St Ives, England
Bill Klock was a resident potter at Bernard Leach Pottery, in St. Ives,
England in the 1970's
He returned to England for an extended visit in 1998 when this photo was
taken. Bill and Anna Klock hosted Robert and Christine when they visited the Leach Pottery at St. Ives.
The wheel show above,
was Bernard Leach's personal Treadle Wheel |
New Zealand
Society of Potters Conference
2002
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| Leach Wheel Chester
Nealie
(Guest Potter from Australia)
at the 2002 New Zealand Potters Conference
This beautiful
Leach Treadle Wheel was made in New Zealand by Seaboard Joinery
in the 1960's.. |
Leach Wheel Chester Nealie
(Guest Potter from Australia)
at the 2002 New Zealand Potters Conference
Chester uses the
Leach Wheel as a turntable, by standing next to
the wheel and slowly treadling. In the photo above he is torching a piece to speed dry
it. |
Pacifica Wheel
Ergonomic ThrowingRobert Compton, guest potter, at the 2002 New Zealand
Potters Conference
Sitting on an angle keeps his spine aligned and helps create
good posture.
Robert achieved the tilted angle by taping a block of wood to the back
feet of a stool.
When he is ready to throw, he tilts the chair forward onto
it's front legs. |
Pacifica Wheel
NZ potter, Peter Collis, at the 2002 New Zealand Potters Conference
Peter is using the same Pacifica Wheel to demonstrate at the conference,
as Robert, but Peter throws in the more traditional low seated position. |
Manual Potters Wheels
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1971
Momentum - Kick Wheel
Momentum or Kick Wheels are enjoyed by many potters. When he was young it was his primary wheel. Now, Robert finds the position
hard to tolerate (hurting his back) for long periods of time and
prefers to use electric wheels.
The wheel in this photograph was designed and built by Robert when he was starting out in clay in 1971. |
2002
Leach Wheels
In 2002 Robert brought back to the USA two
Treadle Wheels
made by Seaboard Joinery
of Auckland, New Zealand.
The wheels were made in the 1960's and were the most common
potters wheel in
the country for many years. Kiwi potters now prefer electric wheels. Many of these Leach Wheels has been abandoned and are rotting away in
garages or even left outdoors.
In 2005 Kevin Ryan (left) purchased one of the two wheels Robert
brought back from NZ. |
1975
Standing Treadle Wheel
This wheel was custom made for Robert in 1975.
The design is such that the potter stands on his right leg while
threading with the left leg. He keeps his balance by leaning against a
support board to the potter's right.
Robert used this wheel extensively in the 1970's and 1980's for
trimming and as a large turntable for assembling thrown forms. It's large
catch basin is wonderful for catching trimmings, and the design gives
you the ability to slowly
rotate the wheel head, a great feature when assembling large forms. |

Robert Compton Pottery
2662 North 116 Road, Bristol,
Vermont 05443, U.S.A.
Phone: 802-453-3778
E-mail: Robert & Christine

02/16/08
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