[ 175 ] l(iO 



The rate at which tlie thread is drawn oft" from the bobbin, coinpar- 

 ed with the number of revolutions which the flyers make in the same 

 time, determines the twist to be hard or soft, and this circumstance is 

 regulated by the proportion of the wheel h to the pinion i, from which 

 it receives motion; and these can be changed when it is required to 

 spin different kinds of silk. The operation of the machine is very 

 simple: the bobbins filled with silk in the winding machine, are put 

 loose upon the spindles at e, and the flyers are stuck fast upon the 

 stop of the spindles, the thi'eads are conducted through the eyes of the 

 flyers b, and of the layers L, and are then made fast to the reel K; 

 upon which it will be seen, that there arc double the number of skeins 

 to that of the spindles represented, because one half of the number of 

 spindles is on the opposite side of the oval frame, so that they are hid- 

 den. With this preparation, the machine is put in motion, and con- 

 tinues to spin the threads by the motion of the flyers, and to draw 

 them off gradually from the bobbins until the skeins upon the reel are 

 made up to the requisite lengths. This is known by a train wheel 

 work at 71 op, consisting of a pinion n, fixed upon the principal spin 

 die R, turning a wheel o, v/hich has a pinion fixed to it, and turning a 

 larger wheel p; this has another wheel upon its spindle, with a pin 

 fixed in it, which, at every revolution, raises a hammer, and strikes 

 r.pon a bell s, to inform the attendant that the skeins are made up to 

 a proper length. When this machine is employed for the first opera- 

 tion of twisting the organzine, the wheel h must be larger, and the 

 pinion i smaller than is represented, in order that the reel K may be 

 turned slowly, and the threads will thereby receive a stronger and 

 closer twist. Also, the handle B is turned in an opposite direction to 

 that in which it must move for the final throwing off the two or three 

 twisted threads together: and, as it must also move for twisting the 

 raw threads together for the warp of silk stuffs, and for weaving stock- 

 ings, this reverse movement makes no alteration in the machine, except 

 that it will give twist in a contrary direction; for it is always necessary, 

 when two or more twisted threads are combined by twisting, that the 

 twist of the original thread shall be in an opposite direction to that 

 twist which unites them into one thread, in the same manner as for 

 making ropes: organzine silk being in fact small rope, and stocking 

 silk or warp being only yarn. The silk intended to be died is previ- 

 ously twisted very slightly in this machine; and of course in that di- 

 rection which will suit the purpose for which it is ultimately intended; 

 viz: whether for yarn or organzine. 



Figure 3 represents a single spindle of a throwsting machine, G and 

 H represent portions of the rails or circles of the stage which supports 

 the spindle, and a a is a part of the rim of the great wheel of the cen- 

 tral axle. This wheel is not made in segments, but is made very truly 

 circular, and covered with leather on the edge, that it may act with 

 more force to turn the roller t of the spindle. The point of the spin- 

 dle rests in a glass lap, supported by the rail G, and the roller t is al- 

 ways made to press against the rim of the great wheel a a, by a small 

 lever d, and? string, which, after turning over a pulley, has the weiebt 



