Spinning and weaving can be considered two of the oldest crafts in human history. Records of textile production date back to the dawn of human civilization, when people first erged from ignorance into the light of culture.
The process of spinning yarn involves two distinct parts: twisting and drawing out the thread. The raw materials, usually in the form of fibers, must be twisted together to increase strength and torsion, then drawn out into a thread.
In the most primitive thods, spinners used a spindle and a spinning rod. Unspun thread was placed on the rod, and with one hand, the spinner would draw out the thread. Once the thread reached sufficient length, the spinner would pick up the spindle and wind the thread around the shaft, repeating the process. This thod’s drawback was its slow speed, but its advantage was the portability of the equipnt.
Hundreds of years ago, spinning technology underwent a significant breakthrough with the invention of the spinning wheel. Compared to the earlier simple thods, the spinning wheel was noticeably bulkier and more expensive, but it could spin thread ten tis faster.
Over ti, people made several improvents to the spinning wheel, such as converting it from hand-operated to pedal-operated. The pedal, which turned a large wheel, increased the spinning speed and freed the spinner’s hands.
Later, the even more innovative ‘flying wheel’ was invented, marking another significant advancent in spinning technology. However, due to the difficulty in achieving the right tension, it could only spin coarse threads.
Now, it was ti to redefine this ancient craft once again.
On October 1, 1991, in the Holy Calendar, the long-planned technology demonstration by the Lakeheart Town chanical Factory was held as scheduled. People from Alda, Baylding, and Emden gathered in Lakeheart Town to see the new invention from the chanical factory. Among them were city rchants, rural landowners, nobles and lords with titles, and even a large number of ordinary people with dreams of wealth. The product launch of the chanical factory was open to everyone from these three places.
The event took place in the square in front of the lord’s mansion. There, people of different classes and backgrounds marveled at a machine.
The factory demonstrator operated an extrely creative device. It consisted of a main wooden fra with a row of vertical spindles and two parallel wooden tracks crossing the main fra, sliding back and forth on the fra. The cotton thread, combed and wound, moved between the two tracks. The demonstrator moved the fra back and forth with one hand, while the other hand turned a handle to drive the spindles. The spindles were arranged at a certain angle, twisting the thread as it passed through, then reversing and loosening at the spindle’s top. Finally, a tal wire dropped down to connect to the spinning thread, allowing the twisted and lengthened thread to retract to the bottom of the spindle, and the process repeated.
Indeed, this was the Jenny Spinning Machine, which played a significant role in the 18th century. To honor its real inventor, Hargreaves, Paul retained the original na in this world. Coincidentally, the son of the chief administrator of the Administration Council, old Ford, just had a daughter nad Jenny, avoiding many pointless speculations. This, however, made old Ford very grateful.
“Gentlen!” Guy Burns announced with pride. “This is the brainchild of our Lord Grayman—the Jenny Spinning Machine. Oh, a clarification: Jenny is the na of Mr. Ford’s newborn granddaughter, so don’t overthink it. Back to the point, look at how amazing it is.”
“This is just a simple demonstration model with only ten spindles, yet it can match the work of ten traditional spinners. In theory, if there’s enough power, it can operate an unlimited number of spindles—18, 30, even 80, increasing efficiency many tis over.”
The crowd erupted in amazent.
“Oh! By the light of the Lord of Light! What a miraculous creation.”
“I can already sense the dawn of a new era!”
Many wanted to touch the spinning machine, but it was surrounded by a cordon with ard guards, deterring anyone from getting too close. Clearly, the lord’s mansion was secretive about its manufacturing techniques.
Was it a fake? The machine was spinning thread under the demonstrator’s operation. While the machine itself was untouchable, the thread spun on-site was still brought out for public appraisal.
A minor drawback was that the machine-spun thread couldn’t produce very fine threads like hand-spun ones. It seed only capable of producing lightweight yarns. Yet, this was undoubtedly a huge technological leap.
…
Listening to the audience’s discussions and seeing their amazed expressions, Guy Burns felt a great sense of satisfaction and pride. He had every reason to be proud. Though the concept and basic structure were Paul’s, the actual realization was
the work of him and his fellow ingenious craftsn.
“Knowledge and technology should benefit the majority, not be playthings in the hands of a few,” Grayman had once concluded. Guy Burns felt he had taken another significant step on this path.
Ha, what I have in store will astound you even more!
Guy cleared his throat and shouted, “Gentlen, have you ever thought, with the speed of our current looms, what’s the use of producing so much yarn? It would just gather dust in warehouses.”
The crowd gasped, wondering what he was hinting at.
“Yes! The Lakeheart Town chanical Factory has also developed a new type of loom to match the spinning speed of the Jenny Spinning Machine!”
This statent piqued the curiosity of the attendees once more.
Guy moved towards another exhibition area, with the crowd’s gaze following him, focusing on a machine covered with a cloth.
With a swish, Guy pulled off the cloth, revealing its true form.
This machine was clearly a loom, made of wood, about 2.5 ters long and 2 ters high, powered by a pedal. But so of its chanisms differed from traditional looms, noticeable at a glance.
For centuries, weavers passed the shuttle from one hand to the other, limiting the fabric’s width to the span of their arms. To widen the fabric, two weavers were needed, greatly restricting the width and speed of weaving.
Now, an invention called the ‘flying shuttle’ solved these problems, allowing for wider fabrics and significantly faster weaving speeds.
“Cough cough! Now, let introduce the second new product from the chanical factory—the Flying Shuttle Loom.”
Guy Burns continued with a proud expression.
TL: Hi everyone! In case anyone’s interested, I’ve enabled annual mberships on our Patreon page EtudeTranslations, set at the maximum discount Patreon lets creators give (16%). If you’re on the fence for subscribing, now’s the /EtudeTranslations
Liked it? Extra chapters at /premium/ via Patreon!
Reviews
All reviews (0)