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Archiver > LANCSGEN > 2004-07 > 1088846977


From: "Certificates" <>
Subject: Re: [LAN] A profession enquiry
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 10:29:53 +0100
References: <009001c460c7$fc42a140$0100a8c0@juliedal>


Self Actor Minders looked after the machine called a Self
Actor; see below

Certificates from Local Register Office; see:

www.certificates.fsnet.co.uk/certificates.htm or e-mail



From: http://31.1911encyclopedia.org/C/CO/COTTON.htm

<<<< The size of the typical weft-spinning mill suddenly
increased after the scope for the application of power was
enlarged by the use of the self-actor mule, invented in 1825
by Richard Roberts, of the firm of Sharp, Roberts & Co.,
machinists, of Manchester. In 1830 Roberts improved his
invention and brought out the complete self-actor.
Self-actors had been put forward by others besides
Robertsfor instance by William Strutt, F.R.S. (son of
Arkwrights partner), before 1790; William Kelly, formerly of
Lanark mills, in 1792; William Eaton. of Wiln in Derbyshire;
Peter Ewart of Manchester; de Jongh of Warrington; Buchanan,
of Catrine works, Scotland; Knowles of Manchester; and Dr
Brewster of America 1but none had succeeded. And Robertss
machines did not immediately win popularity. For a long time
the winding done by them was defective, and they suffered
from other imperfections. Broadly speaking, until, the
American Civil War the number of handmules in use remained
high. It was for the fine counts in particular that many
employers preferred them.3 About the end of the sixties,
however, and in the early seventies, great improvements were
effected in machinery, partly under the stimulus of a desire
to elevate its fitness for dealing with shortstaple cotton,
and it became evident that hand-mules were doomed. Here we
may suitably refer to the scutching machine for opening and
cleaning cotton, invented by Mr Snodgrass of Glasgow in
1797, and introduced by Kennedy4 to Manchester in 1808 or
1809; the cylinder carder invented by Lewis Paul and
improved by Arkwright; and the lap-machine first constructed
by Arkwrights son.>>>>




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