He
conceived the idea by watching a spinning wheel that had been
knocked over lying on its side and still revolving for a few
seconds, while the thread, held between two fingers, seemed to go
on spinning itself. The machine consisted of a rectangular frame
on four legs. At one end was a row of vertical spindles. Across
the frame were two parallel wooden rails, lying close together,
which were mounted on a sort of carriage and slid backwards and
forwards as desired. The cotton, which had been previously carded,
stretched, and twisted passed between the two rails and then was
wound on spindles. With one hand the spinner worked the carriage
backwards and forwards, and with the other he turned the handle
which worked the spindles. In this way, the thread was drawn and
twisted at the same time. No longer did it take ten spinners to
keep one weaver busy. But manufacturers refused to pay him
royalties for his invention. He was offered 3,000 pounds for his
rights in the jenny, but refused it. The courts held that the
model of his jenny had been used in industry before it was
patented and any rights he may have had were declared to have
lapsed. Nevertheless, he made over 4,000 pounds. The spinning
jenny was used in many homes.
Richard Arkwright, came from a poor family and was taught to read
by an uncle. He became a barber and made wigs. Although he was not
a craftsman of any sort, he patented in 1769 a spinning frame
worked by water power and erected the first practical cotton mill
factory.
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