161 [ 175 ] 



€ made fast to it, to press the spindle always towards the wheel In 

 this machine the thread is taken up by a bobbin K, is put into a frame 

 ■in, which moves on pivots, and by a weight n is pressed down, so as 

 to make the bobbin bear upon tiie edge of the wheel A, which is kept 

 in constant and regular motion by means of wheel work, which cannot 

 be well described. 



The intention is that the action of the wheel h, to turn the bobbin, 

 being communicated by pressure against the part upon which the silk 

 is to wind, will be constant, and will not draw more when the bobbin 

 is large and full, or less when it is empty, as must be the case when 

 the motion is given to the a?iis of the bobbin. 



After the silk is twisted in a right hand direction, if it be intended 

 for yarn or for dying; or in a left liand direction if it be prepared for 

 organzine, it must be wound on fresh bobbins, with two or three 

 threads together, preparatory to twisting them into one thread. This 

 is done b}'^ women, who witli hand wheels wind the threads from two 

 or three large bobbins, upon which the silk is gathered instead of the 

 reels, and assemble tliem two or three together, upon another bobbin of a 

 proper size to be returned to the twisting mill. Machines are now in 

 use for winding two or three threads together. 



This operation is slightly represented and described in Rees's Cy- 

 clopedia, a work which has a general circulation in the United States. 



The bobbins being filled with double or triple threads, are carried 

 back to the throwsting machine, and are there twisted together: the 

 manner of doing which does not differ from the operation before de- 

 scribed. 



In this second operation, the silk is taken up by reels instead of 

 bobbins, and is thus inade into skeins. The degree of twist varies 

 with the purpose for which the silk is intended, and the wheels which 

 give motion to the reels, are for this purpose adapted to the degree of 

 twist which the silk is desired to have. The silk being spun, requires 

 only the preparation of boiling, to discharge the gum, and to render 

 the silk fit to receive the die. Figiu'cs 4 and 5 represent the zig-zag man- 

 ner in which the silkworm spins the fibres of which the cocoon is 

 formed. Figure 5 shows how the worm after working for some time 

 in one part, will suddenly extend the silk fibre, and begin at another 

 Ajuarter. 



IMPROVED ENGINE FOR TRAMMING SILK.^^ 



Bij W. V, Shenton, of Winchester. 



Transactions of the Society of Arts, London, Vol. 41, p. 169, 1823. 



l^d silver medal ivas granted for this invention.'^ 



The only preparation which the raw silk imported into England 

 has previously undergone, is that of being wound oflf the cocoons; 



* One of these machines, imported b}- the Secretary of the Treasury, is now \a his 

 office. 



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