It Probably Means Nothing But...
 

I wonder why my bobbins have four holes when I only use one.

The four holes keep the bobbin weight even so that it's balanced when in use!

Huh, never knew that. Thanks, PP! I've always wondered about this, too.

My bobbins for my Viking Mega Quilter only have one hole but they are balanced.

Dh said in case I missed one! LOL! But thanks Paperprincess. Makes sense! Still funny.

I have three different bobbins. I guess I am not very curious, never gave the holes a bit of thought. I am always learning something new.

Well, they can make more bobbins if they take a tad out of each and the holes that were become new bobbins....just a thought.....

Yep, I have the same ones. Usually ones with single holes have smaller holes and are positioned near the center spindle so the effect is minimized.

I have bobbins for my 1980's Viking and they don't have a hole. When I fill it there's a place on the machine to secure it.

My 1970's era Viking most have a tiny hole on one side which helps me keep the direction straight. I put the hole side on the outside of the bobbin winder and then on the outside of the bobbin case. My vintage Singer has bobbins with holes all around on both sides. My new Janome has a hole on each side that I thread the thread through to get it started. These differences also help me keep the bobbins straight for the different machines. The fact that some are metal and some are plastic helps too except the newer ones I got for my Viking are plastic and look similar to the Janome ones so I have to be careful.

I think you are on to something----lol

I use pre filled paper sided bobbins

The bobbin for my 1917 White Rotary only have the hole in the center and a tiny one to put the thread end through. I wish modern bobbins held so much thread.

Hmmm, food for thought. I have 66's, 15's, L's and those for FW's. Must run and look for holes.
Oh, shoot, just remembered, also have two with VBS's.

I never really gave any thought to the 7 holes in my Bernina bobbins. Just always made sure that I bought Bernina bobbins for my DSM.

I have several different machines and just always figured it made the bobbins easier to identify. Never gave it much thought otherwise.

Boy, the things we can learn on this board!!! Sew on, ladies! LOL

I use prewounds most of the time. I take the paper backings off for all my machines. The paper is just there to hold the bobbin thread and keep it clean. The bobbin case does this when the paper is off.

My plastic bobbins have what "looks like" 2 holes on each side, directly opposite each other, but only one of those four holes is actually a hole. Very frustrating when starting a bobbin to find the empty hole.

I don't think it has anything to do with balance, as the bobbin does not spin fast. It only goes around as fast as the thread is used on it. Nothing needs to "balance".

Funny: I thought it was left versus right threading the bobbin.

I just thought the holes in the bobbins matched the holes in my head! LOL
Now I find out that some of you have no holes or only one!

I thought they were so you'd know how much thread was left on them. My new machine bobbins are solid & black so no side viewing holes so I am not always sure how much is left.

Wow! A lot of different answers. Many times I've thought that things had lots of holes so they could save some material to make more. Guess I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

Hahahahahaha!!!! Good thinking!!

Hahahaha!!! Good thinking!!

It's so you can see through the sides to see how much thread is in the bobbin.