Reeling, Spinning, and Twisting Silk Machine Patent Model
Patent No. 1,367, issued October 12, 1839
Jacob Pratt of Sherborn, Massachusetts
Pratt is an example of an inventor who thought he had a more complicated original invention than he actually had. In his patent application file, his specification makes four claims. Out of those four, only one was approved by Charles M. Keller, the patent examiner, and that claim was for using a trough of zinc. The trough held spools of silk fibers prior to spinning and was filled with warm water, which kept the fibers from sticking together.
The Journal of the Franklin Institute, 1840, commented: “Its construction is, in general, similar to such as is well known, and is not claimed as new . . . No particular reason is given for making the troughs of zinc, and we suppose that copper would do equally well; but from the special mention of this metal we were led to look for some ground of preference to it.”
This is a wool carder owned by the Copp family of Stonington, Connecticut during the 18th and 19th century. The carding process is part of preparing wool for spinning into yarn. Wool is brushed between two hand carders (see DL*006833.02) to align fibers in the same direction. The wool is rolled off the carder into a rolag and then spun.
The Copp Collection contains a variety of household objects that the Copp family of Connecticut used from around 1700 until the mid-1800s. Part of the Puritan Great Migration from England to Boston, the family eventually made their home in New London County, Connecticut, where their textiles, clothes, utensils, ceramics, books, bibles, and letters provide a vivid picture of daily life. More of the collection from the Division of Home and Community Life can be viewed by searching accession number 28810.
This is a wool carder owned by the Copp family of Stonington, Connecticut during the 18th and 19th century. The carding process is part of preparing wool for spinning into yarn. Wool is brushed between two hand carders (see DL*006833.02) to align fibers in the same direction. The wool is rolled off the carder into a rolag and then spun.
The Copp Collection contains a variety of household objects that the Copp family of Connecticut used from around 1700 until the mid-1800s. Part of the Puritan Great Migration from England to Boston, the family eventually made their home in New London County, Connecticut, where their textiles, clothes, utensils, ceramics, books, bibles, and letters provide a vivid picture of daily life. More of the collection from the Division of Home and Community Life can be viewed by searching accession number 28810.
Used to secure fiber optic cable to a LED on a terminal light source, or a photodiode on a terminal light amplifier in an optical repeater (1982.0529.03 and .04). A metal block with a V-shaped grove running lengthwise. Grove is covered by two metal and one ceramic plates. Threaded mounting holes are underneath. No extant makers marks.
Sample of Mohair fiber (noils), Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, 1914. Noils are the short strands removed from the mohair fibers during the combing process. Given by Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, headquartered in Boston with a mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1914, along with samples of mohair fiber in various stages of processing, and samples of the company's finished textiles.
Sample of Mohair Top fiber, Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, 1914. "Top" is the product of the combing machine, ready for spinning into yarn, separated from the "noils", or shorter strands. Given by Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, headquartered in Boston with a mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1914, along with samples of mohair fiber in various stages of processing, and samples of the company's finished textiles.
Used in fiber optic repeater (1982.0529.01). A GTE optical repeater set on a circuit board. Seven leads connect the board to the unit which in turn feeds an orange plastic insulated glass fiber. One label reads: "Property of GTE / 47-3T1-034 / Laboratories", second label reads: "Property of GTE / 111-374 / Laboratories". Dymo label reads: "TLA". Using this equipment, GTE opened a fiber-optic telephone line between Long Beach and Artesia, California, in 1977. The transmitter employed a light-emitting diode (LED). Later systems would use lasers." Reference: http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/Underwater-web/uw-optic-05.htm.
Used in fiber optic repeater (1982.0529.01). A GTE terminal light source for an optical repeater set on a circuit board. One lead connects the board to electronics which in turn feeds a light emitting diode connected to an orange plastic insulated glass fiber. Printed on board: "G.T.E. Laboratories / C.O. Light Source Mod". Dymo label reads: "TLS". Using this equipment, GTE opened a fiber-optic telephone line between Long Beach and Artesia, California, in 1977. The transmitter employed a light-emitting diode (LED). Later systems would use lasers." Reference: http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/Underwater-web/uw-optic-05.htm.
Fiber optic cable sample. Used with fiber optics system that includes repeater (1982.0529.01). No extant makers marks. Plastic insulated glass fibers running parallel with an insulated copper line. Internal insulation includes paper and plastic wraps. A foil wrap separates layers within the cable.
Light emitting diode (LED) in a metal canister. Coaxial connector on one end, plastic covered tip on other. Written on canister: "C9". Used on terminal light source board for fiber optics repeater (1982.0529.04)
Fiber sample; undyed. Recycled polyester Eco Fiber, by Draper Knitting Company, 2008. Recycled from plastic soda and water bottles. Part of a display that included the crushed bottles, the plastic pellets, the fiber, undyed and dyed, and the finished products, first displayed at the American Textile History Museum, Lowell, MA.
ATHM Collection - #2008.265.5; gift of Draper Knitting Co.
Fiber sample; dyed red. Recycled polyester Eco Fiber, by Draper Knitting Company, 2008. Recycled from plastic soda and water bottles. Part of a display that included the crushed bottles, the plastic pellets, the fiber, and the finished products, first displayed at the American Textile History Museum, Lowell, MA.
ATHM Collection - #2008.265.4; gift of Draper Knitting Co.
Roll of wool top (carded fiber); M.J. Whittall, Worcester, MA; 1913. Gray wool fiber, carded into a roll, called "top". Ready for spinning process.
(Part of a collection of photographs and specimens illustrating the manufacture of Wilton and Brussels rugs and carpets.)
Matthew J. Whittall started in the textile business as a supervisor in Worcester's Crompton Rug Co. He opened his own business in 1874 and by WWI was the largest employer in Worcester, with 1500 workers in 15 buildings. The mills were sold in 1950.
Sample of 187 dram (heavy) Mohair Roving, Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, 1914. One bobbin. Roving is a step between the combing of the fiber and spinning of the yarn. Given by Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, headquartered in Boston with a mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1914, along with samples of mohair fiber in various stages of processing, and samples of the company's finished textiles.
Sample of Mohair roving, 77 dram, Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, 1914. One bobbin. Roving is a step in the manufacture of mohair yarn.Given by Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, headquartered in Boston with a mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1914, along with samples of mohair fiber in various stages of processing, and samples of the company's finished textiles.
Sample of Mohair roving, 30 dram, Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, 1914. One bobbin. A step in the manufacture of mohair yarn from combed fiber. Given by Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, headquartered in Boston with a mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1914, along with samples of mohair fiber in various stages of processing, and samples of the company's finished textiles.
Photodiode detector in a metal canister. Three leads on one end, plastic covered tip on other. No extant makers markings. Used on terminal light amplifier board for fiber optics repeater (1982.0529.03).
Length or bundle of red-dyed polyester fiber in sliver form; red, 100% PCR PET polyester, by Draper Knitting Company, 2008. Stage in the processing of plastic bottles into polyester fleece.
First introduced by Malden Mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1979, owner Aaron Feuerstein chose NOT to patent the invention, allowing it to be copied around the world. Malden Mills was devastated by a fire in 1995, and although Feuerstein tried to keep the company afloat and operating in New England until 2001, through some bankruptcies, reorganizations, and sale of assets, production was finally relocated to Tennessee and New Hampshire in 2015, under the name Polartec LLC.
Polyester fleece from recycled plastic bottles was at first considered an ecological boon as it kept these plastics out of the landfills and the oceans. Recent scientific inquiry has found that the microfibers that are washed off of fleece materials in daily use find their way into the world’s waterways and since they do not degrade, have also begun to show up in fish. This is an important story of invention, evaluation, reassessment; the importance of science and scientific inquiry, and the importance of continued review of the impact of human actions on the environment.
ATHM Collection - #2008.265.3; gift of Draper Knitting Co.
