ttf the Iwo kinds of noying-itinchines in use. viz., the so-called speeder and the so-called fly-fratne, the fly-frame dining the last ten years has gained mon the speeder, espeeially on tine work. 'The prepared for spinning, passes through from two to four of these machines successively, and at some of them it is doubled, for the purpose before stated in referring to diawing,-frames. The final result is a soft cord, having a slight twist in it, and weighing on ordinary work about four skeins, or two miles to the pound. For coarser work it is heavier, and for finer work lighter. This is the last process of the carding-room, which embraces, in all factories, opening, carding, drawing, and roving machinery, and changes the cotton from its crude condition in the bale into fine continuous strands wound upon bobbins ready for spinning. In a mill where cloth is manufactured, roving is divided in its destination, part for warp and part for filling. The warp yarn is spun with much greater twist, because, in the first place, of the extra strength which it requires in weaving; and, second, because the less twist of the filling, gives a soft appearance to the cloth, and is of advantage in dyeing or printing. The warp yarn is spun upon what are known as frames, previously described, which receive the roving from the carding-room, and convert it into yarn of the size desired. The reduction in size is made by drawing-rolls, as before, and twist is given as in the fly-f rtune, by the rapid revolution of spindles; but, in the winding upon the bobbin, the ring and traveler previously described are substituted for the flier. The ring frame has been improved during the last ten years more than any other machine used in manufacturing. The details of these improvements will be referred to later.
Following the yarn from the ring-frame, where it is wound upon bobbins, it goes to the spooler, where the yarn is unwound from bobbins and wound upon a large spool holding 20, 000 yards, more or less. As each bobbin is wound off, another is tied on, until the spool is full. The yarn in going from the bobbin to the spool is passed through what is called a spooler guide, which cleans the yarn of many bunches and imperfections, which might better have been taken out in the carding-room, if possible. After spooling comes warping, in which a large frame called a creel is filled with spools, usually 300 or 400 in number. The ends from each of these spools are drawn together into a flat sheet, which is wound upon a beam, usually about 54 in. long and 24 in. in diameter of heads. Each one of these threads passes through an eye, which, with other mechanism, serves as a stop-motion for the machine, so that if one thread breaks it can be replaced. and the sheet of threads kept. complete. The full beams arc taken to a sizing-machine called a slasher, and there they are run through boiling size and dried upon a cylinder or over steam pipes, and wound upon a loom-beam at the other end of the machine. The threads are then drawn through loom harnesses and reeds, and the warp
is ready for weaving.
Filling is spun either upon filling-frames or mules. During the last ten years the filling frame has been gaining upon the mule on coarse and medium work, and also on fine work where considerable twist can be used, such as thread-yarns. The filling-frame, after spinning its yarn, winds it upon a bobbin, while the mule wind's it in what is called a cop, with a paper tube for a base. These bobbins or cops are subjected to the action of heat or dampness to prevent kinking in, drawing off and are then ready for use in the loom-shuttle. Several times as much waste is made in weaving mule or cop filling as in weaving frame or bobbin filling. Some yarn for weaving. and almost all for other purposes, after being spun is doubled awl twisted. This requires the use of the machine known as a twister. The twister is a simi lar machine to the spintung-frame, except that it does not draw the yarn. It takes two threads or more of completed yarn and twists them into one, and winds them upon a bobbin. The twisted yarn, if destined for weaving, is then spooled. warped, and dressed as usual. If destined for other purposes it is subjected to other operations. beyond the scope of this arti cle. Considering the diversified field of manufacture from the cotton-bale to the loom, it is best to classify the different processes.
Opening and Picking.—Tn openers and pickers the changes are in the nature of improve ment in the manner of utilizing old ideas rather than radical innovations. The clearing trunk is being used in improved forms on (Tellers. and so are automatic feeds and lap-eveners. A preparatory machine, called a bale-breaker, made by Platt Bros., of Oldham. England. breaks the matted cotton into small pieces before it comes to the pickers. This has also a new dust-trunk, through which the cotton is drawn by the exhaust opener. The cotton passes one way by means of a fan-draft while the grids travel slowly in an opposite direction.
Cards.—Although there has been much commotion of late years over this subject, it re sults rather from the increased use in this country of the English revolving flat card, old in principle but improved in detail, rather than from arty important inventions. The adoption of a system in which single carding takes the place of double, and the toiler is substituted for the railway, is enough of a change to excite considerable agitation and discussion. This in troduction of English ideas set our shops at work to reproduce and improve on the revolving flat, and also to further perfect the American card, so that it might stand comparison more favorably. No doubt quite a percentage of the improved results of the last few years in carding is due to the use of superior clothing. Tempered steel clothing, needle-pointed, is rapidly gaining ground, and the methods of attachment are better than formerly.