Before William Crompton’s 1837 patent for a fancy power loom was adopted, the harnesses of power looms were controlled by cams. This arrangement limited the number of harnesses that could be utilized, which in turn limited the complexity of patterns that could be woven. In order to vary the pattern, the cams had to be laboriously changed. Crompton’s invention solved both of these problems. In his patent, an endless pattern chain was used, upon which rollers or pins could be variously placed to engage the harness levers (as had the cams) but which allowed any number of harnesses to be used and easily permitted the changing of patterns. Now more elaborate designs could be easily woven on power looms.
In 1806 William Crompton was born in the textile mill town of Preston, England. He was taught how to weave on a cotton hand loom and learned the trade of a machinist. He was thirty when he came to Taunton, Massachusetts, and was employed by Crocker and Richmond. At this textile mill he designed a loom to weave a new more complex patterned fabric. The mill failed in 1837 and Crompton went back to England. He entered into cotton manufacture with John Rostran, and took out a British patent for his loom under Rostran’s name.
Later in 1839 Crompton emigrated with his family back to the United States in order to promote his looms. He met with success when the Middlesex Mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, invited him to alter his fancy cotton loom for the weaving of woolen fabrics. This he accomplished in 1840, and it was considered an important landmark for the woolen industry. In his book, American Textile Machinery, John Hayes quotes the Committee on Patents of the United States House of Representatives, 1878: “ . . . upon the Crompton loom or looms based on it, are woven every yard of fancy cloth in the world.”
In 1849, William’s health declined and his son, George, carried on the business. Like his father, George was an inventor and patented many improvements for the loom. After 1859, the Crompton Loom Work became one of the two largest fancy loom manufacturers in the United States.
Two-hole, portable cooking or camp stove consisting of an oblong, bead-molded firebox and friction-fit, cast-iron top with two hole covers that lifts off so the stovepipe, legs and additional equipment can be packed inside for transport; folded seams and riveted construction, finished black. Rolled-rim firebox has a circular damper on front, ring handles at sides and four leg slots on underside; two pintles and a pivoting hook on back held a removable, hinged, five-sided oven (missing) that also fit inside. Embossed, bead-bordered, gilt-brass oval tag riveted above damper reads "H. L. DUNCKLEE (arched) / PATENTED / JUNE 22, 1875 / BOSTON, MASS. (curved)" in serif letters. "C P 1-2" cast in underside of both hole covers.
Currently contains four sections of stovepipe (two 2-part telescoping sections and two single sections; all with lapped riveted seams); two rectangular sheet-metal shelf or pan supports that mounted inside the oven; two short legs for stove; one long leg for oven; one L-shaped arm or bracket (possibly to support a shelf on front of stove top); and two curved pan handles or pot lifters with hooked ends.
black and white stereograph mounted on mint green cardstock; printed on verso "Woodward & Son, / 50 Main Street, / Taunton, / Mass."; congregation of men and women gathered inside the Tabernacle at the Wesleyan Grove Campground; lamps placed at regular intervals throughout the interior
black and white stereograph mounted on orange cardstock; printed on verso "Woodward & Son. / Taunton, / Mass."; group of men, women and children gathered on the lawn, both seated and standing, in front of the gingerbread cottages of Cottage City (Wesleyan Grove, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard)
black and white stereograph mounted on orange cardstock; printed on verso "Stereoscopic Views / in / Wesleyan Grove and Oak Bluffs, / Martha's Vineyard / A.C. Brownell, Fall River, Mass / Woodward & Son, Taunton, Mass."; two level gingerbread style cottage with "Newton Highland Cottage" written over first floor windows and door; group of men, women and children gathered on lawn in front of cottage; baby in a pram at center of image; young boy seated on grass with a small dog