SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—G. 
SECTION G.—ENGINEERING. 
Thursday, September 7. 
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS by Mr. R. W. ALLEN, C.B.E., on Some experiences 
in Mechanical Engineering (10.0). (See p. 129.) 
Mr. Wo. Taytor, O.B.E.—Historical and engineering features of Taylor, 
Taylor & Hobson’s works (11.15). 
Mr. JoHN CHAMBERLAIN.—The mechanisation of knitting (11.30). 
Although the invention of the first knitting machine by the Rev. Wm. 
Lee, of Calverton, Notts, in 1589, was a triumph of mechanical ingenuity, 
the machine was, of necessity, crude, and many scientific developments 
were required before the mechanisation of that type of machine could be 
achieved.. Onthe contrary, the latch needle, invented by Matthew’ Townsend 
of Leicester, in 1849, was definitely adapted to mechanisation soon after 
its invention. Many types of machines were introduced in the nineteenth 
century, but mechanisation proceeded much more rapidly after this time, 
510 
and, broadly speaking, developed on the following lines :— 
(1) The replacement of manual operations by automatic devices. 
(2) The development of scientific methods of loop forming and loop 
manipulation. 
(3) The introduction of stop motions for yarn breakage, etc. 
(4) The improvement in machine tools for knitting machine production. 
The following table shows the extent of the progress made. 
Apparatus Machine (C ee gs 
» ourses or er in. 
Date. or Machine. co = Revs. per a per 
Se: Min.). Operator. 
To A.D. 1933 | Knitting pins — — 200 to 300 
or crochet 
hook 
A.D. 1589 | Hand stock- | One-at-once, 20 courses 1,920 
ing frame 12-gauge. 
A.D. 1775 | Hand warp | 20-in. wide, | 20  ,, 4,800 
loom 12 needles 
per in. 
A.D. 1864 | Cotton’s Four-at-once, | 40 ,, 38,400 
frame 30-gauge. 
A.D. 1868 | Latch needle | 4 machines, | 20 revs. 192,000 
circular 4 feeders, 
machines 600 needles. 
A.D. 1933 | Cotton’s 24 - at- once, | 70 courses 829,440 
system 48-gauge. 
A.D. 1933 | Locknit warp | 2 machines, | 200 __,, 1,200,000 
looms 100 in. wide, 
30-gauge. 
A.D. 1933 | Circular 8 machines, | 27 revs. 3,110,800 
machines 12 feeders, 
1,200 needles. 
A.D. 1933 | Seamless hose| 10 machines, | 200 ,, 600,000 
machines 300 needles 
X 34 in. dia. 
DISCUSSION (12.15). 
