Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Chapter 313: Spinning and Weaving

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 emerged 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 methods, 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 method’s drawback was its slow speed, but its advantage was the portability of the equipment.

Hundreds of years ago, spinning technology underwent a significant breakthrough with the invention of the spinning wheel. Compared to the earlier simple methods, the spinning wheel was noticeably bulkier and more expensive, but it could spin thread ten times faster.

Over time, people made several improvements 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 advancement in spinning technology. However, due to the difficulty in achieving the right tension, it could only spin coarse threads.

Now, it was time to redefine this ancient craft once again.

On October 1, 1991, in the Holy Calendar, the long-planned technology demonstration by the Lakeheart Town Mechanical Factory was held as scheduled. People from Alda, Baylding, and Emden gathered in Lakeheart Town to see the new invention from the mechanical factory. Among them were city merchants, rural landowners, nobles and lords with titles, and even a large number of ordinary people with dreams of wealth. The product launch of the mechanical 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 extremely creative device. It consisted of a main wooden frame with a row of vertical spindles and two parallel wooden tracks crossing the main frame, sliding back and forth on the frame. The cotton thread, combed and wound, moved between the two tracks. The demonstrator moved the frame 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 metal 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 name in this world. Coincidentally, the son of the chief administrator of the Administration Council, old Ford, just had a daughter named Jenny, avoiding many pointless speculations. This, however, made old Ford very grateful.

“Gentlemen!” Guy Burns announced with pride. “This is the brainchild of our Lord Grayman—the Jenny Spinning Machine. Oh, a clarification: Jenny is the name 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 times over.”

The crowd erupted in amazement.

“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 armed 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 seemed 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 craftsmen.

“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, “Gentlemen, 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 Mechanical Factory has also developed a new type of loom to match the spinning speed of the Jenny Spinning Machine!”

This statement 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 meters long and 2 meters high, powered by a pedal. But some of its mechanisms 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 me introduce the second new product from the mechanical factory—the Flying Shuttle Loom.”

Guy Burns continued with a proud expression.

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