Self-Acting Mule
Taylor, Lang and Company Limited
Category
Machinery and industrial devices
Date
1926
Materials
Measurements
152 cm (height); 2520 cm (length); 152 cm (width)
Place of origin
Stalybridge
Order this imageCollection
Quarry Bank, Cheshire
NT 1453857
Summary
A self-acting condenser spinning mule made by Taylor Lang, Stalybridge, in 1926. This is the fifth and final machine to process the raw cotton into cotton yarn. The machine can spin up to 560 cotton threads at a time. The machine drafts 28 pieces of cotton roving (thin strands) from a total of 20 metal bobbins along the back of the machine through a set of drafting rollers. As the carriage draws forwards along a set of tracks, the soft cotton roving is drawn out and when the carriage reaches the end of the track, each of the spindles turn to add in the twist to turn the roving into yarn. The carriage then travels back in and winds the yarn evenly onto the cop (or bobbin), starting at the bottom of the spindles. When full the cop is doffed (removed) from the machine.
Provenance
This self-acting mule was originally from Ilex Mill in Rawtenstall, Lancashire. It was purchased by Quarry Bank Mill in 1980 and is still in working condition.
Marks and inscriptions
Plate with embossed letters on the horizontal frame at the ends of the mule: Taylor, Lang and Co. Limited Stalybridge 1926 Plate with embossed letters on the horizontal frame at the ends of the mule: Taylor, Lang and Co. Limited Stalybridge 1926 Horizontal frame inside edge at end of mule: 6P
Makers and roles
Taylor, Lang and Company Limited, manufacturer