House of Commons Paper,
28th January, 1731.
[4] Self-Help, p. 205.
[5] The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain considered, p. 94.
[6] The petition sets forth the merits of the machine at Derby
for making Italian organzine silk--"a manufacture made out of
fine raw silk, by reducing it to a hard twisted fine and even
thread. This silk makes the warp, and is absolutely necessary to
mix with and cover the Turkey and other coarser silks thrown
here, which are used for Shute,--so that, without a constant
supply of this fine Italian organzine silk, very little of the
said Turkey or other silks could be used, nor could the silk
weaving trade be carried on in England. This Italian organzine
(or thrown) silk has in all times past been bought with our
money, ready made (or worked) in Italy, for want of the art of
making it here. Whereas now, by making it ourselves out of fine
Italian raw silk, the nation saves near one-third part; and by
what we make out of fine China raw silk, above one-half of the
price we pay for it ready worked in Italy. The machine at Derby
contains 97,746 wheels, movements, and individual parts (which
work day and night), all which receive their motion from one
large water-wheel, are governed by one regulator, and it employs
about 300 persons to attend and supply it with work." In Bees
Cyclopaedia (art. 'Silk Manufacture') there is a full description
of the Piedmont throwing machine introduced to England by John
Lombe, with a good plate of it.
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