Received an e-mail through the blog and I was unable to reply and answer so here it is Rona.
Hi Rowena,
I was looking through the blogs for Jensen Saxony
owners and found your website! I have the opportunity
to buy an oak Jensen 30" Saxony wheel and I was
wondering if you could help me figure out what a
reasonable price for it is. It seems that you also
bought an oak Jensen wheel used. I hope it's not too forward to ask how much you paid for it?
The wheel I'm looking at is also oak. It doesn't have half spokes and it seems like it doesn't come with extra whorls or any extra bobbins. Do you know if the original oak wheel also came with 3 whorls? It does have the distaff. From the photos it looks to be in fairly good condition and I was told it was well stored for the last 20 years. I won't have a chance to try it out until Xmas week when she will be in town. She is asking for $800 but I was thinking with the missing parts $650-$700 would be more reasonable. Do you think that's fair? Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks,Rona
ANSWER: Rona, It would depend on which parts are missing. Extra bobbins for the Jensen are around $29.00 a bobbin. The 30 inch wheels are fairly expensive and it takes about 6 to 8 months wait to get one. The orders keep coming in for the Jensen and I believe he makes them himself. I will need to research that a bit more. The Distaff is ordered separately and mine came with 3 whorls but I ordered 2 more to complete the set. Also, check to make sure that the scotch tension peg is not broken. The are very long and beautiful and the end breaks off if you are not careful with it. You can order replacement parts but they will come in Cherry. I love the half spokes also and I would love to have a 30 inch with half spokes. One day maybe! I think that the price is right considering it is difficult to find an Oak wheel today. The wheels are only made in Cherry. On the bottom of my wheel there is a brass label with the name and also it is hand signed. I will create a legend for the wheel one of these days to put on the bottom.
Rona, I hope you read this and comment. Please let me know if you get the wheel and I would love a photo. Thank you, Rowena Tank - Proud owner of the Jensen!