I collect antique great wheels (the big spinning wheels for textiles). I've been asked if the smaller grooves found on some drive wheels help to make bending easier/more successful. Some of the wheels have a single groove (to hold the drive band on more securely as the rims from the Southern states are narrow and thick compared to the Northern wheels) and others have multiple band grooves with several smaller grooves. I think I'd also need to identify the type of woods used and also if there's one piece of wood used in the rim or two pieces.
