The Saxon wheel, soon after introduced, was more perfect than the preceding. The spindle of this wheel was supplied with a bobbin, on which the thread was wound, and with a " flier" revolving at a greater speed than the bobbin, whereby the fibres were twisted as required. This constituted a great advance ; and so perfect was its action that it has never been surpassed to this day. Its principle is still embodied in many of our preparing- and spinning-machines.
This wheel was a long time before it supplanted the more antique instruments, but during the 18th century, the latter finally disappeared. About 1764, it was further improved by the addition of another spindle. This was called the " two-handled wheel," and maintained its ground until the beginning of the present century. This, in its day, was a very efficient instrument. Its frame was mounted on three legs. To the right of the operator, was a spoked wheel, about 2 ft. in diam , on the axle of which was a crank carrying a connecting-rod, whose opposite extremity was attached to a treadle operated by foot. On the left, the two spindles were mounted in a part of the frame, which rose to a suitable altitude. The spindles were furnished with small whorls, grooved on their periphery, for the reception of the driving-bands. The large wheel was also hollowed around the rim for the same purpose. The driving-bands were composed of hard-twisted woollen or flax yarn, the selection depending upon the fibre for which the machine was being used ; some times gut was the material. Each spindle had a flier for twisting the thread, which was wound upon a " bobbin," a thin wooden tube, fitting rather loosely upon the spindle. The flier revolved with great rapidity, the bobbin following more slowly, being held in check by the thread, and revolving only at a rate sufficient to take up the yarn as it was delivered by the spinner. The distaff was attached to the wheel in the most convenient position for permitting the fibres to be drawn off with facility by the hands of the worker, both being employed in drawing the material and forming the threads. These, in process of spinning, were from time to time shifted upon a series of bent wires, so as to fill the bobbins as evenly as the appliances would permit. The threads were moistened with saliva by the worker, to make the fibres more pliable and yielding to the torsion applied, and thus more readily form a solid thread. The filled bobbins were placed upon a pin held in the left hand, and their contents were wound upon a flax-reel, 120 rev. of which constitute a " cut." This quantity was tied together, and others were added until there was a sufficient number to form a hank, when it was removed. In spinning on both the one-thread and
two-thread wheels, great expertness was attained by the beet workers, and their yarn was remarkable for solidity, smoothness, roundness, and evenness.
The hand-wheel did not give way to its mechanical competitor until the close of last century ; and before disappearing, had applied to it the mechanical traverse of the flier, for laying the threads in even layers upon the bobbin by automatic means, instead of passing them successively along the series of crooked guide-wires by hand, The successes of Hargreaves, Arkwright, and Cartwright in the invention and application of machinery to the kindred industry of cotton-spinning, during the latter half of last century, seen suggested a similar course in relation to the flax manufacture. This was quickly followed, and very soon correspondingly favourable results were achieved, the new machinery superseding for ever the appliances which had sufficed for so long. The lead in this movement was taken by an optician' and a clock-maker, named Kendrew and Porthouse, of Darlington. The fo'rmer appears to have been the prime mover. An inspection of the Lancashire cotton machinery resulted in a patent being taken out in 1787, described as being for " a mill or machine upon new principles for spinning yarn from hemp, tow, flax, or wool." Several of these machines were fitted up and successfully worked for some years in s small mill situated on the Skerne, at Darlington. They soon attracted the attention of Scotch manufacturers, who erected some on the same principle, and paid a royalty to the inventors. But the progress made was not very great or satisfactory. The machinery was rude, and roughly finished, and the work was correspondingly difficult and inferior. It was many ycara before machine-spun yarns equalled the quality of those obtained from the hand-wheel. Experience dictated successive improvements and inventions, which so far perfected the yarns that iu the early part of the present century they began to supersede hand spun yarns, which finally disappeared. Many inventors contributed to this result, and their improvements will, to some extent, coma under notice presently. The linen manufacture as now conducted requires large establishments, furnished with expensive machinery, and backed by considerable capital, to work with advantage. There is also needed a great amount of technical knowledge, which is called into requisition at every stage of the process, from the selection of the raw material to the time when it emerges from the manufacture in a finished state ready for the consumer. Without these essentials, there is considerable risk of failure.