Feb. 1, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



CLOTH MAN D FACTORY AT SYDNEY. 309 



1 60 yards) could be made from thirty to fifty threads only, as the case might 

 be. There is likewise a reel for skeining ; when the yarn is to be 

 dyed it requires a separate process, otherwise the colour would not be 

 even. When the warper has filled the form he takes it off, and winds it 

 or folds it in a peculiar manner, resembling a large ball, called a chain. 

 In this state the weaver receives it from the factory, and he first immerses 

 it in a quantity of size and lays it on the stretch to dry, when, if any 

 thread be broken, it will be seen. Next comes the operation of beam- 

 ing ; and here again, should any thread be wanting or out of place, it is 

 taken up. To describe the weaving in a casual visit would be impos- 

 sible, when volumes are written on the art. And what with the 

 numerous terms, such as headles and treadles, and motion of this and 

 that name, we must be content to say that there were twenty-four looms, 

 some weaving the plain twill, whilst others were working patterns of 

 various designs, and which we were informed had not been attempted 

 before in the colony ; but they were not in a forward state to leave the 

 looms. They are all worked by manual labour. As the cloth leaves 

 the loom it certainly looks far from prepossessing, having the appearance 

 of very coarse canvas, not over-clean, and certainly not smelling particu- 

 larly sweet, consisting of stale size, oil, and mouldiness combined. 

 However, the wool has arrived at about half the stage ; that is to say, it 

 is woven. 



Leaving the weaving shops, which are detached from the main build- 

 ing, we enter the wash and fulling house — here the before-described 

 dirty-looking cloth is subjected to the operation of scouring, and may 

 be considered the first step of the finishing process, which is of as 

 much importance as the making of cloth, and almost a distinct busi- 

 ness from that before described, the beauty of the cloth entirely depend- 

 ing on the care bestowed on the finishing. The scouring is performed 

 in the following manner : — One end of the cloth is passed between two 

 rollers in a frame above a large trough, into which is poured some pre- 

 paration ; it is sewn to the other end, and when the machine is in motion 

 it travels as an endless band, the passing between the rollers washing 

 it far better than by hand. When cleansed the liquor is run off and cold 

 water allowed until the piece is thoroughly purified. It is next par- 

 tially dried, and subjected to the action of the gig mill in an adjoin- 

 ing building. This is a most powerful machine, its object being to raise 

 a nap on the cloth, take out any /ribs or knots, and deprive the surface 

 of any unevenness there may be on it. It consists of a number of 

 rods previously filled with teazles secured to a cylinder revolving at 

 great speed, and the cloth is brought in contact with the teazles, but in 

 an opposite direction. It begins now to assume the appearance of cloth, 

 only feels thin, open, and rough. When dry it passes under the hands 

 of the curlers, women, whose duty it is to examine it well and take out 

 any double thread, seeds, or mend any flaw. The curling irons used 

 are like large tweezers, with one end very sharply pointed. The cloth 



