88 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE HOSIERY MAN CFACTURE. 



are making hose principally. The " circulars " and " rotariea " are 

 believed to have increased five per cent, per annum in number for some 

 years. 



There are about 800 warp frames making pieces for gloves, &c. The 

 ■wages are from 16s. to 35s. per week. The number of this class of 

 machines thus employed is about as it was ten years ago. Many hands 

 are employed in finishing hosiery goods; cutters, stitchers, menders, 

 bleachers, pressers, folders, &c. Women earn in some of these opera- 

 tions 16s., and men 25s. to 30s. weekly. In the whole English machine- 

 wrought hosiery trade there are directly and indirectly employed in 

 ordinary times, 120,000 hands. In 1850 there were 1,230 frame-smiths, 

 600 needle-makers, and 340 sinker-makers. The wide steam rotary 

 machines are costly, and require highly-skilled hands to keep them in 

 order. Yet it is thought not impossible, that gradually the greater part 

 of the English hosiery frames may be brought into factories. Attempts 

 to construct wide rotaries, so as to put in fashion — i.e., to widen or narrow 

 by the machine, and without stopping it for the removal of the loops, 

 have been at length successful. One such machine, patented a few years 

 since, has been improved upon by M. Tailbuis, of Paris, was at 

 work in the International Exhibition of 1862. It is calculated to pro- 

 duce very regular goods in fine qualities, if not driven at too great 

 speed. Another improvement of the same patented machine had been 

 made by Messrs. Hine, Mundella, and Co., of Nottingham. Their 

 machine of 100 inches wide, worked by power, makes while narrowing 

 thirty or forty courses of loops per minute, and when not narrowing, 

 fifty to sixty courses. Fourteen dozen of medium size pantaloons, 

 fashioned by narrowing, have been made upon it in a week. The effect 

 of so large a measure of success may be to diminish the cost of many 

 fashioned articles ; and so, by enlarging demand for them, cause 

 " rotaries " capable of giving fashion perfectly, combined with regularity 

 of loops and due elasticity, to be more and more sought after. 



It may be here stated, in dismissing the subject of inventions, that 

 the justly celebrated mechanican, Mr. Josh. "Whitworth, amidst his other 

 inventions, constructed a very ingenious circular knitting machine. 

 This is the only one put together on different principles to that of Lee. 

 Though many years at work, it lias not come into general use. 



Much of the. cotton yarn used in making English hosiery, is supplied 

 from Staleybridge, Ashton, and Bolton. The amount consumed is so 

 large as to have contributed much to the business of that district. Any 

 difficulty in obtaining a supply at reasonable prices, is of serious moment 

 to the hosiery trade. The consumption of animal wool has also increased 

 in this business. Silk has remained stationary for some time. 



X arrow- hand frames have not been fully employed of late. Probably 

 twenty-five per cent, have not been at w r ork for some time. They are 

 not generally rendered unavailable if required by the wants of the 

 trade. The amount of the consumption of materials, and the returns 



