The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-29

work, for achievement, for lofty effort, for no
Bile daring, for heroic deeds
'aH Hand Loom aud Spinner.
" New GLOUCESTER, March 20.
Mr.. EDITOR: l have read with much inter-
est "Traxis" recent letter on the subject of
home manufactures His suggestions are most
excellent, and must exert good influence in
these days of artificial education. f
should like to learn where the Hand Loom
and Spinning Jenny are to be obtained, and
their cost. You will greatly Oblige by any in
Iormation on the subject through your valued
paper, A SUBscRIBRR.
In the article on Domestic Spinning and
Weaving" to which our lady Subscriber al
ludes, We spoke of certain improved Self-act-
ing Hand Looms and Spinning Jennies which
are in quite common use in the Middle and
Western States, but which have not found
their way, to any considerable extent, INTO
Maine. They are manufactured in Cincin-
natl, Ohio, and the demand for them is so
great in the West as to exhaust all the COM
pany can make, without seeking market by
the overland transportation to distant New
England. We have never seen one of the
Looms in operation here; but we have seen
intelligent and reliable people from the Lake
States, who reside in families which own and
operate the machines, and they assure us
that they are getting largely into use there.
ana give entire satisfaction to their possessors.
Indeed, from what we had seen in the New York
Tribune's statements made in person, or
by correspondence, in the "American Insti-
tnte Farmers club" we sometime since be.
came satisfied that the Improved iSelEActipg
Hand Loom" is no humbug, but valuable
thing 20 be had in the families of farmers, and
other industrial classes. The writer of this.
addressed letter to the Club, wishing that
Board to procure and publish correct and re-
called forth letter from Capt. c. Garnett of
Philadelphia, which was shortly after publish
ed in the Tribune, in which that gentleman
says:
my sister-in-law, widowed by the war, with
three fatherless children under ten wears on
her hands, and United States Arsenal work
laihng, sought something surer as rescue
from famine than tailor "slop work" And she
found it in the Shand-loom of Mendenhall.
Herewith is sent our sample ofwhat she can do
on the loom-only one of many kinds OF work
the loom viii perform, by process as simple
as turning grind-stone, and five times less la
borious. On the same piece of cotton warp, a
woman may begin and weave off q three ward
pattern OF pantalOOns clOth-plaIn, twiled rib
bed, tweed or speckled, any color she chooses
to use for filling; then coat pattern; after
that fancy vest; next, a beautiful gray pearl
drab, or blue travelling suit for herself and fin
ish off with as substantial and beautiful a bal
moral as was ever woven; and the changes
from one material to another, can be made in a
single minute. The loom is simple in con-
structiOn, durable, ornamental, and occupies
no more spare room, than n grand piano. A
great variety both of woolen and cotton goods
can be woven on the loom, and with no prev
ious knowledge of weaving any woman, or a
girl OF 10 can weave from II to 80 yard, per day,
according to quality. am not trying to advo-
cate for Mr.. Mendenhall or any one else having
the loom for sale; but the loom is the thing
that 10000 farmers wives and a great MANY
other people ought to have in their houses, and
SO give my testimony in its favor" 8s
Knowing that the American Institute would
not willingly lend its aid to humbug the pub
lie, and having desire to lesson the severity
and increase the avails OF female labor, we
thought it proper to call the attention of fam
lilies to this labor-saving Hand Loom. But
it seemed to US that the Loom should have il
desired, companion in the shape of do
nestle Spinning Jenny, to prepare the yarn
for the web. Accordingly we wrote to
the company at Cincinnati to ascertain
whether it could furnish aspinner to go with
the loom; what the cost of either would be; {;
when the machines could be procured; and
requested to have sent us samples of the va
rious kinds of cloth woven upon one of the
looms. To-. r........ ....t .f.. -....
1t may be of service to our Lady "Su5scrib-
err" and to others of our readers, who feel an
interest in the matter, to see the Letter re-
ceved in reply. to our request: IS fe H
DEAR SR:-Your favor Of the 26th inst. is
at hand and contents noted We enclose your
samples and circular. The samples show for
themselves. We saw Capt. Garnett's letter
and will only add that we have hundreds ofa
similar character from persons who have the
loom in use. We know nothing more of Capt.
Garnett only that he has one of the looms in
use. Whatever he said was done voluntarily,
without our knowledge or solicitation; and he
said nothing but what we or any one who has
the loom in use, would endorse. The loom has
been for several years before the public, and
has thoroughly proven its utility, durability
and practicability, by actual use in the hands
of thousands of families through the West and
never failed to render satisfaction in single
capacity to fully meet the wants of all classes
for weaving every variety OF cotton, tC0OL and
linen fabrics, from the cOdrsest to the finest, as
well as from the heaviest to the ightest quail
ties. Its machinery is of the most simple, sub
stantial, durable and reliable character, having
no delicate parts requiring accute adjustments;
and has stood years OF use without getting out
of order. In putting it before the public, we
only desire to place it upon its own true mer-
its, feeling confident that in offering it we are
off q loom thaS has Npau rpdupad simplif.
ed and perfected, so that the ease of its opera
tions, the rapid and faultless manner with
which it does its work, will justly enttle it to
the confidence of all who want looms.
We have just completed Wool Spinner, in
tended as a companion for the LOOM 1t spins.
reels, doubles and twists, upon the same ma
chine, without change of machinery. 1t spins
ten or twenty threads at each draw, and spins
from common cut rolls, or from rope, or end
less rolls-the same as used in factory SINNERS
The entire machine weighs only about fifty
pounds when complete, is as simple and as
easily managed as the old fashioned spjnning
wheels, and takes up little if any more room
IL draws about four feet of thread from each
spindle at each draw. We are now getting up
circular etc, of spinner.
We would like very much to have it exten,
slvely introduced into your State, as well as M
the New England States; but they are so o,s %
tant from us that it is very expensive Ior us "
do business there, and conseaues;Iy ani;cn f;ndinr
| thus far made no effort in that dieo''o'' "e
| all we could do in the West.
We have taken some pains, and been at
some expense, to obtain all the information in
mh;ch we have supposed our readers might be
;n,erested. and now make them welcome to it,
Tbov can Judge for themselves how far it is
entitled to respect. The samples sent us en-
brace nine different kinds of cloth,-wool, cot
ton, and linen, coarse and fine, and appear
strong and handsome. The price of the Loom,
with all its accompaniments, is St50-not
half the cost Of the piano, and as handsome
as that and much more useful. II Is claimed
that girl can soon earn from So to so per
day by the use of it, and that it win weave as
fast and as well as any Loom in Factory
We know not the price Of the Spinner men,
toned in the Company's letter, but have writ
ten to ascertain; also, to inquire how we can
rot ono of tho T.nonc or Spipp arc for ha ,,co