LOOM AND SPINDLE—HOOPER. 663 
describe, to have a general idea of this drawboy machine. In order 
to give this idea, however, I must first describe the work of the 
human drawboy. For the purpose we shall need the diagram of the 
draw loom (fig. 44, pl. 10). 
[Here the lecturer again briefly repeated his explanation of the 
various parts of the draw loom. ] 
In a rich silk loom there were often as many as two or three thou- 
sand lead weights, called lingoes, hanging three to each leash of the 
monture. These weigh altogether a couple of hundredweight. On 
an average half of them had to be drawn up at every line of the de- 
sign. Moreover, their dead weight would be so increased by the 
friction of the mul- 
titude of cords and 
pulleys that the 
boy would have to 
raise and hold for 
several seconds a 
weight equal to a 
hundredweight 
and a half. This 
would, of course, 
be impossible but 
for some mechani- 
eal help. The im- 
plement devised 
for the boy’s assist- 
ance was called the 
“drawboy’s fork.” 
This is shown at figure 46. The vertical lines in this diagram rep- 
resent the cords of the simple. 
To the left is a solid stand having two broad uprights joined to- 
gether at the top by two parallel bars. A is a block of hard wood, 
which fits between the bars, and is held in position by four pairs of 
small wheels. These not only support it but allow it to run freely 
from end to end of the stand. 
This block, with the fork and lever attached, is shown separately 
at EK. The fork and lever are hinged to the block at its top and can 
be moved from the vertical to a horizontal position. When about to 
be used the block is moved till the points of the fork are just beyond 
the backmost cord of the simple, the lever being in an upright 
position. 
By means of the loops tied to the simple, as shown at figure 46, the 
required cords are drawn forward and the upper prong of the fork 
inserted in the opening thus made. Then, grasping the lever, the 
® © oO 
Fic. 46.—Drawboy’s fork. 
