From our new friend Ellen Zepp of Orchid Patch/Andes Alive . . .

"Mike and my Winter project is underway - sleeve, sort chronologically and scan the postcards my grandfather ( Herman C. Maddocks aka Pappy ) sent to his eventual wife during his tour of duty on the USS New Maine . This was part of the Great White Fleet that was commissioned to circle the globe between 1907 & 1909. Among these, we came upon the attached photo of Ifigau ( Philippine Islanders ) spinners. Check out the elevated tube with the hole in the bottom - kind of like a combination of a distaff and a diz. It makes the process stationary but I'll bet it goes lots faster. Wonder what they're spinning."