MACHINES FOR WOOL, FLAX AND HEMP, SILK, &c.
[Class VI.
LOG
wheels. From Belgium , the Pikenix Company (134, ( which was formerly employed to the great detriment otp. 1155) have sent a well-made “ soft-bobbin ” frame, in j the health of the workpeople. Messrs. IIiggins (14,which the cone and pulley, usually employed to produce j p. 270) have also exhibited excellent specimens of thethe variable motiou required by the bobbins, are replaced , four machines employed in the long flax spinning, andbv a group of spur-wheels. Mr. \Y. Hayden, of the ; the preparatory steps which belong to it.
“United States (386, pp. 1401, 1402), exhibits a drawing- I In the article of Hemp we find only the large machineframe for cotton, with an ingenious self-acting mechanism of Mr. J. Crawhall (78, p. 279), by which yarns, spunfor regulating the weight of the slubbing, and Messrs. : by processes not exhibited, are converted into a rope.Bates, Hyde, and Co. (440, p. 1403), send a saw-gin for This machine, compared with the previous ones, fromcotton. Messrs. W. and C. Matiier (10, p. 270) exhibit I which it is derived, is remarkable for simplicity ofa calico-printing machine, for printing eight colours at arrangement.
one operation. | The Foreign Department does not contain a single
, n \ t r — j 1 machine relating to the flax manufacture.
(2.)— \\ool. °
The machinery for the woollen manufacture, notwith- - (4.) — SilK.
standiug its extent ami importance, is very slenderly j The simpler machinery of the silk manufacture is corn-represented. Mr. G. K. Donistiioiipe (40, p. 273) con- ; pletely exemplified by the beautifully-finished machinestributes a machine for long-wool combing, recently of Mr. J. L. Davenport (80, p. 279), which includepatented, on a new principle, of great ingenuity and . the complete series employed in that branch, for throw-admirable promise; and Messrs. Berry and Sons (48, ! hig, winding, cleaning, spinning, doubling, and reeling;p. 274) have furnished a series of the six machines : the whole of which are exhibited in operation. Mr. J.employed in the manufacture of worsted yarns, of the : Frost (S4, p. 279) also contributes models (or rather,best workmanship and of improved construction. By , short portions) of his improved machines for winding,these the complete progress of the material, from the j cleaning, throwing, &e., and of his spinning and doublingstate of a sliver to the spinning, inclusive, is shown in j machine, in which the two operations are performed bydaily operation. Mr. Mason (40, pp. 2G8, 209) exhibits, j one process.
in the short-wool department (or clothing branch), two j In the Zollverein Department is a machine for silk-carding-machines and a mule. These deserve especial : winding, by Mr. T. II. Diepers (472, p. 1078); and innotice, as being on the plan now adopted very generally I the Russian (150, p. 1371), a machine, by Mr. H. Graff,on the Continent, and universally in the United States , . for spinning silk directly from the cocoon.
Attention must also be directed to the ingeniousmachines for manufacturing the cards with which thecarding-machines for cotton-wool, &c., are clothed. Twospecimens of this machine arc exhibited, the one in theEnglish Department, by Mr. T. Crabtree (3, p. 208); theother in the French , by Messrs. Papavoine and Ciiatf.l(339, p. 1193), both of excellent workmanship, althoughdiffering very little from the well-known machine ofMr. Dyer.
From this rapid survey of the machinery iu the Exhi-bition, for converting the raw materials of cotton-wool,flax, and silk, into a continuous thread, it appears thatnearly all the processes are represented, and some ofthem in the most satisfactory and complete manner. Itis to be regretted that no specimens have been sent of thecurious machines, by which caoutchouc is manufacturedinto a continuous line.
(B.)—Weaving of all Kinds.
(5.)— Loom*.
We may now proceed to the various classes of looms.of which a great variety are placed in the Exhibition,and most of them maintained in operation, either bypower or hand; many of them also are remarkable fornovelty of construction and for important improvements,which can only be alluded to, here, as it would beimpossible to render them intelligible without the aid ofdrawings or very long descriptions. Those, however,which appear of the greatest importance may be men-tioned.
Messrs. C. E. and C. Parker’s power-loom for sailcloth (77, p. 27S) is distinguished by peculiar and effectivearrangements for maintaining the uniform and regulardelivery of the warp, and a constant but adjustable ten-sion in the taking-up motion, by which the firmness ofthis important article of manufacture is insured.
Mr. Brown (56, p. 275) also exhibits a sail-clothpower-loom with peculiar arrangements, adapted to thesame objects.
In Mr. Barlow’s double jacquard loom (82, p. 279)two cylinders are employed, and the cards are disposedupon these in alternate order, so that, while one cylinderwith its cards is brought into action upon the horizontaltow, the long flax, and the cut flax ; and they contain all wires, the other is withdrawn for the purpose of rotatingthe machines used in each respectively, by which the it, and shifting the card, and vice versa. By this arrange-raw material is converted from the form in which it is ment the loom can be worked with a velocity 40 perimported, to the thread, as delivered to the weavers, or cent, greater than that of the ordinary construction: theothers, by whom it is employed. Among them are the ! steadiness of its action is greatly increased, and the strainmachines by which the spinning of flax has been so ! upon the warp diminished, by another improvement,greatly facilitated by substituting cold water for warm, 1 which consists in lowering the warp threads as well as
by which endless slubbings are formed directly from thecard. The old billy-machine, and the operations con-nected with it, are thus dispensed with, and the yamproduced is more level. Mr. Mason’s machines containseveral important improvements, of his own invention ;especially an apparatus for condensing the slubbing fromthe first card. In the French Department, a set ofwoollen machinery, on the same system, is exhibited byMessrs. Mercieu and Co., of Louviers (032, p. 1208);namely, two carding-machines and one semi-self-actingmule. These machines are of highly-finished workman-ship, and in the best style of modern French machinebuilding. In this department (283, p. 1190), Messrs.Lacroix and Sons contribute a fulling-maehine, ofadmirable construction upon a system which has entirelysuperseded, on the Continent, the old method of fulling-stocks. In the English part, Mr. E. Hunt (49, p. 274)exhibits a gig-mill, of a new and simplified construction,which, by working on both sides, and thus finishing theprocess of dressing with teasels, without removing thecloth from the machine, is rendered capable of turningout considerably more work than on the usual system.
The English mechanists have not contributed a singleshearing-machine, but in the Foreign Department thereare exhibited several of very creditable workmanship;namely, by Messrs. Thomas (Prussia 57, p. 1060), II.Trgupin Brothers (Belgium , 128, p. 1155), andSchneider and Legrasd (France , 1001, p. 1227).
The Flax manufacture is represented, in the presentcollection, with the same spirit and completeness as thecotton.
Mr. 1L Plummer exhibits his patent rotatory discmachine (74, pp. 275—27 7), with other machines for break-ing, cutting, and dressing flax; also his application of guttapercha to the holders. Messrs. Lawson and Sons con-tribute a set of sixteen machines (75, pp. 277, 278),which, for beauty of execution, value and completenessof illustration, are fully equal to those which Messrs.Hibbert have furnished in the department of cotton.These machines are divided into three series, that includethe three departments of flax manufacture; namelv, the