Lancashire Loom
Willan and Mills
Category
Machinery and industrial devices
Date
1880
Materials
Measurements
128 cm (height)228 cm (length)120 cm (width)
Place of origin
Blackburn
Order this imageCollection
Quarry Bank, Cheshire
NT 1453829
Summary
A Lancashire loom made by Willan and Mills, Blackburn, circa 1880. This machine is number 239, identified by its affixed plate. This machine weaves cotton fabric using warp and weft threads. Hundreds of warp threads are wound around a metal beam at the back of the machine, and are drawn in from the back through a series of healds (thin ropes with eyelets) that are attached to heald shafts. As the shafts are raised and lowered, the weft thread is sent from side-to-side between the warp threads by a shuttle, weaving together the individual threads into a solid piece of cloth.
Marks and inscriptions
Front of horizontal bar that runs across the top of the loom: Willan and Mills Blackburn Front of horizontal bar that runs across the top of the loom: Willan and Mills Blackburn Plate centre of horizontal bar that runs across top of loom: white; 239 Front of horizontal bar that runs across the top of the loom: Willan and Mills Blackburn Plate centre of horizontal bar that runs across top of loom: white; 239 Plate centre of horizontal bar (back): 50 Front of horizontal bar that runs across the top of the loom: Willan and Mills Blackburn Plate centre of horizontal bar that runs across top of loom: white; 239 Plate centre of horizontal bar (back): 50 Hanging from horizontal bar: 8s Front of horizontal bar that runs across the top of the loom: Willan and Mills Blackburn Plate centre of horizontal bar that runs across top of loom: white; 239 Plate centre of horizontal bar (back): 50 Hanging from horizontal bar: 8s Hanging from horizontal bar: L236 b-1 / ends 1620 - 12s / weft 8s cotton / reed 37s width 43½ / date in 28-1-97 / 2 green bars
Makers and roles
Willan and Mills, manufacturer