376 



MEMOIR OF DANIEL TREADWELL. 



Combined with the top, it is intended to hold it back in a more equable manner 

 than the rope-tails, and thereby give a more equable hardness to the rope. 



The figure represents a tail to make a four-stranded rope, a a is a disk of wood 

 or iron, having through it the hole or opening B B. c c are four blocks screwed 



upon the face of the disk a a. d d are four 

 solid cylinders, or rubbers, which pass from the 

 centre to the circumference of the disk, each 

 having on its inner end a ridge to lit the 

 crease between the strands, f f are springs, 

 which, with the thumb-nuts G G, press the rub- 

 bers against the strands at e e. ii ii are holes 

 in the disk, through which pass rods or ropes to 

 keep the tail at a proper distance from the top. 

 To use the instrument, the strands of which 

 the rope is to be made are passed through 

 the disk between the rubbers ; if the top is 

 then put in place, and secured at the right dis- 

 tance from the tail, which is so held that it cannot turn round witli the rope, it 

 will lay the strands even and smooth one upon another, without starting the tar. 



In 1831, after Mr. Treadwell had observed the working of his machines for six 

 months he declared, in answer to the inquiries of one of the Commissioners of the 

 Navy, Commodore Charles Morris, that the same amount of cordage from the same 

 material which by hand-spinning would cost |30 a ton could be made for $15.62 

 a ton. " After a full consideration of these subjects, I have concluded that I will 

 furnish any number of Gypseys, from fifty to one hundred, with all the roving and 

 preparing machines, at 1 1,000 for each Gypsey." It was also shown that the rope 

 produced is of a better quality, and stronger, than that made from hand-spun yarns. 

 Inasmuch as no spinning grounds will be required, the cost of buildings will be 

 much less ; and, again, the work can be carried on at all seasons, which is not 

 possible with hand-spinning. The offer to furnish the machines for the Charles- 

 town Navy Yard was accepted. In 1832, a factory was also established by Mr. 

 Treadwell on the Mill-dam, in Boston, capable of manufacturing nearly 1,000 tons 

 annually. 



Previously to this, a joint stock company was formed, under the name of the 

 Spinning Company, by Francis C. Gray, Horace Gray, and Daniel Treadwell. This 

 continued until 1833, when another and larger company was organized, the Boston 



