Centering and holding device for use with a potter's wheel apparatus

A system for centering and supporting a pottery work piece or a pottery work piece centering and holding device on a potters wheel head positioned about a central axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the wheel head, and having a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface, the system comprising:

• means in the form of a first plate designed to support a pottery work piece or a pottery work piece centering and holding device, said first plate means being substantially circular and defining a central axis of rotation extending perpendicular to said first plate means, and also having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• means for operably clamping said first plate means to a potters wheel head, said clamping means comprising a plurality of said means for clamping designed to be adjusted and positioned to engage the periperal surface of a potters wheel head, said clamping means being operably and adjustably attached to said first plate means;
• and
• means for positioning said clamping means with respect to said first plate means, said positioning means including:
• (a) a plurality of means for holding each of said plurality of clamping means fixedly at a precisely selected radial location on said lower surface of said first plate means;
• (b) a plurality of means for guiding each of said plurality of clamping means along a predetermined path of travel, said guide means being radially located also on said lower surface of said first plate means, and
• (c) a plurality of scale means radially located on said lower surface of said first plate means and associated with each said guide means to facilitate the location of each of said plurality of clamping means in position at predetermined, precisely selected substantially identical radial distances from said central axis of said first plate means so that said clamping means will provide for the precise centering of said first plate means with a potters wheel head so that the central axis of rotation of said first plate means will be in substantially coaxial relationship with the central axis of rotation of such a potters wheel head.