Re bobbins, I remember as a child finding & playing with the old wooden beaded bobbins in my grandmother's sewing box. That was in the Midlands. Several of my ancestors were lace makers in Wymeswold, Leicestershire, also in Honiton Devon, where it was a cottage industry. Threads would be delivered and finished work collected. I think by the mid 19th century such home working was obsolete. Lace making became industrialised - in the U.K. centred on the Nottingham Lace Quarter. I think for practical purposes turned wooden bobbins were more useful though I know decorative bobbins (glass etc) were given as gifts. The glass ones illustrated remind me of the tiny glass scent bottles produced in Stourbridge.