The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-12
EDISON OUTDONE.
An Fnglishman Inyents Machines
Which Run Without
Human Aid.
A Cotton Mill in Full Operation, Day
and Night, Without Hands-An
Account of the Alleged Inventor
and His Work.

Account OF the Alleged inventor
and His Work.
New York Ttmes.l
LONDON, June ia run Of five to six
hours from London northWard, takes you to
Bradford, in Yorkshire; II you go by the Mid
land route you travel through stretch OF
the most picturesque scenery 10 England, on
the High Peak section of the road. This was
my route. My journey ended at smoky
suburb of the great manufacturing town 81
Bradford. Low Moor Is q busy district. 10
the local ironworks have been added some
the industries Of the district Is one which
promises to revolutionize the mechanical ope-
rations Of the world. It had been reported
to me that Mr.. Binns, practical inventor
and designer, had come as near TO the attain
ment or perpetual motion as had been reached.
He had constructed machinery which
could be set at work at the beginning Of the
week and would go ahead until the end with
out being touched, 80 long as the steam en-
CINE continued to work; that the operation OF
manufacturing proceeded continuously with
out tending; that the owner locked up his
mill at night, and went to bed, while the ma
chimes maintained their busy revolutions,
turning out miles of silk cords, fringes, trim
to employ scores OF hands, he now only needed
q stoker, q book-keeper and few cleaners
and packers to put up the produce of his au-
tomato mill But y, suppose there Is break
pauses, mends the break, and goes on again."
was the answer, This Is q mil to see, !
thought, and few hours ago / found myself
at q quiet, unpretentious little house at Oak
enshaw, near the Low Moor Railway depot.
asking for Mr.. Blnns. The master OF the
house welcomed me, but regretted that I
could not see the mill that evening.
The next day inspected the mill. found
In the principal apartment fifteen machines at
work quite unattended. They were making
many colors, combinations OF silk and wooden,
and In many varieties of designs. Large bob
bins, charged with material and feeding them
selves from endless rolls, revOlved round each
other upon 9 large rotating disk OF slower
movement. 1t was almost like an astronomical
model OF q sun, with O planetary system In
motion. Between them travelled yarn In
course OF working, and this was clothed In
many hues and designs by revolving silk.
The Old method Of manufacture was to make
pie is rotary and endless, almost literally
without beginning and without end. Except
for cleaning" said the inventor, standing by
one Of the machines as he spoke, this would
Monday morning till Saturday night
without touching; it is self-feeding, self-tak-
ing up, self-acting." He broke thread; the
machine mended ble DfeaKage ana Went on
again. "The machines run at the rate OF sew
enteen Thousand revolutions q minute" he
said; 'that can be increased, and they require
no heald, reed or harness to the Warp-threads.
The cords are developed, and used up in new
silk trimming goods, which are woven In com
bination with the work, and at this work q
girl at 81 a week, can in that time produce
this class Of goods of $500 in value In the
endless window cord, $780, chain or sash line,
$1,000; and this same girl, at 81 a week, In the
silk, cotton and wool yarn goods can earn
$1,000; for, with the newest machine just mem
toned, she Is simply cleaner and collector"
It is difficult to describe the machine so as
to realize it to the minds eye OF the reader;
but with the astronomical similein your mem
DRY. let me add that, first, there Is square
bench; on that a flat, revolving disk as
large as q big Cammonbert cheese; above that
from six to @ dozen revolving bobbns The
action of the machine appears to be so simple
that one wonders at Binnss te1nerity In show
briefly as it is in this letter. The principle
which lies at the bottom OF all the operations,
and which is no doubt duly secured by patent,
is that OF the endless spindle band, which was
zontai machine. The imperceptible joining
is contrived by means of small steel hook.
The bands are all produced at one exact
length; there Is no joint or knot to interfere
with the turning OF the suindles on which 1t
is used. Within a very short period OF time
nearly all the English spinuers have adopted
this band. 1t can be put on any spinning
| frame in less than a quarter OF a minute,
without any waste or knot.
| It was dark when returned to Low Moor
| The country was lighted by the blaze Of the
great pig and other iron-naking works. 1t
was strange, weird Illumination. cloudy
night, the sckly flames were fifth and In Gu
riOus competition with the twinkling OF cot
| tage windows and public houses. / made my
way from the Low Moor depot, along the
road, and again knocked at Mr.. Binns door.
| We walked to the mill. The furnace lights
were now some distance behind US. Binns's
mill Is in the midst Of fields and meadows,
| away on the edge Of Low Moor hustle. In
the distance beyond there are woods and hills.
| BY the mill there runs north country brook.
| 1t flows under low bridge by the manufac-
tory, which Is a Handsome stone structure.
The engine-house in outside the mill,
terror, SO that the works are not invaded by
engineer or stoker AS we approached the
mill through the darkness, the roar and rat
| tie of the machinery could be heard high
the bridge. The dark outline Of the mill
could be seen, and from it came the busy
sound of machinery. It was a giantin the
dark The electric light is Of no use to Mr..
Binns. We went to the mill door. The bust
ness of the mill was going on as If hundreds
took out the key and opened the door, the
darkness was pitehy. It could almost be felt,
A sensation OF awe succeeded one of wonder.
A mill at work by Itself. One realized it, be-
cause no sounds Of voices were heard. There
were no girls singing at their work. No men
calling to each other, no echoes OF human
| voices. It seemed like an Arabian Night"
Presently Binns struck match. We climbed
| the wooden stairs by candle-light. Another
door was unlocked. We were In the
machine room. The din was deaiening.
Every machine was at work, pelting away as
| ii for very life. Here was a triumph Of hui
man ingenuity. 1t was as II modern, real
istic, money-makihg PygmaIion had made a
machine and the spirito science bad breathed
| life into it. Under the glimmer of the candle
light we approached one Of the machines.
Flash Of wheel and bobbin, glitter of silken
cord curling out like a yariegated snake and
falling In tWining curves into collecting re-
ceptacies met our wondering eyes, aud it
seemed as if sthe FACILITATING machine might
| have truly apostrophlzed US In the language
| OF Iennyson's Brook: