Dobby Mechanism
Sir James Hill & Sons Ltd
Category
Machinery and industrial devices
Date
Unknown
Materials
Metal
Measurements
70 cm (height)150 cm (length)41 cm (width)162 cm (length)
Place of origin
Keighley
Order this imageCollection
Quarry Bank, Cheshire
NT 1453856
Summary
A dobby mechanism, 'The Nelson', made by James Hill and Son Ltd., Keighley. This is attached to a Lancashire loom (NT.1453821). This mechanism enables 'fancy cloth' to be woven on the loom by using a series of pegs set in a pre-determined pattern, which control the treadles that move the heald shafts therefore allowing a pattern to be created, in an early form of programming from the cylindrical wooden box and pegs.
Marks and inscriptions
Left end: James Hill and Son Ltd Keighley Left end: James Hill and Son Ltd Keighley Front and back: The Nelson Left end: James Hill and Son Ltd Keighley Front and back: The Nelson Front and rear: No.3GL Left end: James Hill and Son Ltd Keighley Front and back: The Nelson Front and rear: No.3GL handwritten on paper; Do not push loom back when shuttle is in left hand box, will get wrong lift. George
Makers and roles
Sir James Hill & Sons Ltd, manufacturer