8th aDd 9th Processes.--Repeated passages through the screw-gill balling-maehine, as described in the 5th process, after which it is ready for the next stage.
10th Pi ocess.—This is the first process of drawing. In it, the sliver-balls are brought from the last machine, and are doubled two into one with a draft of about four. The slivers first pass through fied.rollers, then over a porcupine-roller, next between 13. pair of frout rollers, whose) speed being greater thau that of the porcupiue, the fibre is drawu and straightened through the teeth of the latter. After this, it plisses between " rubbers," which carry it forward and deliver it upon a bobbin saunter' by calender-roller. 'The machine contains eight poroupines and eight pairs of rubbers, and balls the material on four belohins 14 in. traverse, two threads upon each, and each of which is reduced from two balls, requiring therefore 16 balls in the creel. It can be made for six, eight, ten, or twelve bobbins if ri quired.
Ilth and 12th Processes. Saeond Drawing-frame.—RepetitioDs of tbe preeeding operation, and on a similar though rather smaller machine. The sliver from the foregoing is doubled two into one with a draft of about four, ELS in foregoing operation. The bobbins in this ease are of 12i-in. traverse.
13th Process. Redueing.—Again a process similar to the last. The slivers aro again doubled two into oue, and attenuated by a draft of four, by which they are again reduced to half their former diniensions. 'The machine has four boxes, eight porcupines, eight pairs of rubbiog leathers, eight bobbins of 7-in. traverse, and creel for two heights of bobbins.
14th and 15th Procesges. Slubbiog.—Buth similar to the preceding, hilt the doubling is four into one, with a draft of four, giving sliver of the same dimension. Bobbins 7-in. traverse, two threads being wound upon each.
16th Rod 17th Processes. Roving.—Substantially the same as the foregoing, and performed on the same class of machine, though somewhat smaller. Doubling four into one, and drawing four.
18th Process. Finishing roving.—This is the last stage of roving, and again the machine is similar to the preceding. The doubliog is however two into one, with a draft of four. This last machine contains four boxes, eight porcupine-rollers, eight pairs of rubbers, and creel for four heights or 16 bobbins. The finished roving is received on eight bobbins of 7-in. traverse. The machines for all the preceding proceeses from and including the tenth, are similar in construction and principle, varying only in size and very slight details ; the latest ones are smallest. To secure freedom from vibration, which would injuriously affect the quality of the proceszes, the head stock is built upon a strong base-plate, which prevents vibration from the gearing and the rubbing motion. The different parts are so eonstructed as to permit changes to be made with the greatest
facility, to secure steadiness in working, so as to prevent any cutting of the wool, aud finally to obtain durability in the machine. Through all the preceding stages, there has been no twisting of the fibres, consequently no straining or damagiog of the fibre, either by dcstroyiug its elasticity or injuring its scaly imbrications. It arrives at the stage in which it has to assume its final form with all its qualities intact, and in the best condition for being subjected to severe torsion and the strain of a great draft. A four-hank roving is drawn and twisted simultaneously by a draft of ten, so as to make a yarn of 40's count.
19th Process. Spinning.—The final machine of this series is the mule, and, not as in the English system, the throstle-frarne. Platt Bros. & Co., Limited, of Oldham, the makers of the different machines thus briefly described, have introduced several important improvements in this machine. The one attached to the series of machines under notice contained 300 spindles 16 in. in length and Win. gauge, and was fitted with four lines of rollers, the lower one of each line being case-hardened, and the front top rollers being of wood covered, and having case-hardened iron pivots, weighted by saddles and levers, the three rear-line top rollers being sinaply incumbent upou the lower ones ; it bad also the double rim-band arrangement, and conical friction-box for working the cam-shaft and taking in the scroll-shaft. By newly invented appliances, the carriage can be stopped, or rather will be stopped automatically, at any point of its course, either in coming out or going in, by the presence of any obstruction, and the spinning operations will cease automatically should the cam-shaft make its change before the appointed time. New means are adopted for regulating the tension of the backing-off chain during the depression of the faller-wire to the spindle-point, preparatory to commencing the backing-off. An automatic arrangement for forming the upper cone of the cop, technically called a " nosing" motion, is included in the various improvements, and also a patent winding-on motion, by which the winding is automatically adjusted to the enlarging form of the cop. These improvements constitute this mule not only a novelty for spinning worsted in this country, but also a more perfect machine for its purpose than any exiAing upon the Continent from which the general idea has been borrowed. Many of the novelties have been transferred and adapted from the cotton-spinning mule.