WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE 1181 



may be used with advantage ; such as where the staple is short, or where the fibrous 

 material operated upon is very close, and separated with difficulty. 



Mr. Ross next describes some improvements in the combing machine of his inven- 

 tion patented in 1841, and now extensively used. The following general description 

 will indicate with sufficient distinctness to those familiar with the machine, the nature 

 of the improvements : 



' First, I give to the saddle combs in the said machine a compound to-and-fro 

 and up-and-down movement, whereby they recede from and advance towards the 

 comb gates, and simultaneously therewith alternately rise and fall, so that each time 

 the comb gates pass the saddle combs, they do so in a different plane, and thus the 

 position of the combs in relation to each other, as well as to the hold they take of the 

 wool or other material, is constantly being changed. Secondly, I employ a fan to 

 lash tho wool in the comb gate or flying comb up against the saddle comb, which 

 renders it impossible for the wool to pass by the saddle comb without being acted 

 upon by it. Thirdly, 1 attach the- springs by which the gates are actuated to the 

 lower arms of the combing gates, instead of their being placed parallel to the upright 

 shaft of the machine as formerly, whereby a considerable gain in space and com- 

 pactness is effected ; and fourthly, I use breaks to prevent the sudden jerk which is 

 caused when the wool in the comb gate leaves its hold of the saddle comb or incline 

 plane, and also to counteract the sudden recoil of the springs by which the comb 

 gates are pressed in when these springs are released from the grip or pressure of the 

 incline plane.' 



Mr. Ross concludes with a description of an -improved method of heating the combs 

 which has for its object ' the economising of fuel, the better heating of the combs, and 

 the prevention of mistakes in removing the combs before they have been a sufficient 

 time exposed to the heat.' 



The body of the heating box or stove is divided by a partition into two portions, 

 which communicate together at the back or further end of the stove, so that the flame 

 and heated vapours, after having circulated under and along the sides of the 

 two lower comb chambers, ascend into the upper portion of the stove, where they 

 have to traverse along the sides and over the top of the two upper chambers, 

 ultimately escaping into the chimney through a pipe. The length of the heating box, 

 or the chambers, should be about double the length of the combs. The cold 

 combs are inserted at one end, and on being put into their places push the more 

 heated combs towards the other end of the chambers, from which they are removed. 

 See ALPACA. ; MOHAIR. 



Few of our manufactures have been more stationary than that of woollen goods. 

 Our ancestors appear to have given much attention to the weaving of woollen cloth, and 

 to have produced a fabric of much excellence. All that the moderns have done is to 

 quicken the process of production by the application of steam-power to the machinery 

 employed, and they have introduced, in consequence of- this -application, a few new 

 and ingenious machines. The sophistication of many woollen fabrics, especially 

 carpets, with the fibre of jute, is destructive of one branch of our woollen manu- 

 facture. 



EXPORTS. 



British Manufactures, 1873. 



Value 



Ibs. & 



Sheep and lambs' wool, British 7,034,735 620,848 



Other sorts, including foreign dressed in the United 



Kingdom, and flocks and ragwool . . . . 4>677,983 132,909 

 Woollen and worsted yarn : 



Woollen (carded) - . 696,704 101,608 



Worsted (combed) . . 34,047,803 5,291,885 



Woollen and Worsted Manufactures. 



