Cheney Stereoviews Collection (41 of
)
So. Manchester, Conn., U.S.A.
The loom shown here is somewhat different from the two looms previously shown, namely the French broad goods loom, and the ribbon loom. This loom is what is known as a Jacquard loom; it is shown at work weaving brocade. The punched cards which control the design are shown at the top of the picture and at the center are the cards which raise and lower the threads. The woven cloth is seen coming off at the front of the loom and is being rolled on the beam below. Four banks of shuttles are visible at the end of the lathe in the lower central part of the picture. Each shuttle carries a different color of filling. By the use of different shuttles, according to the requirements of the design, further variety is secured in the pattern.
The Jacquard loom gives the textile worker complete control over each separate thread of the warp. In the looms so far shown a series of threads were moved at one time, but in the Jacquard loom each individual thread can be raised or lowered as the design requires, without disturbing any other thread on the loom. This is accomplished by having each thread of the warp passed through an eye which is attached to a card. This card is in its turn attached to a hook. The hooks are controlled by heavy paper cards with holes punched in them, which either push the hooks back or, if the holes are punched, allow them to be lifted by means of blades which rise and fall between the hooks.
For pictures and contemporary information on the Weaving Mill in the
"Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark District" page, click here.
