The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-06-30
In the CARPET Mill.

II brussels carpet IL 10 DC made the
yarn goes to the dye room; but if il is TO
be made into tapestry. then it goes 10 the
printer. When dyed. of course. ca, h
yarn is of one color throughout Whom
printed every yarn IS of one color for a
certain length. perhaps half all inch.
then another for perhaps quarter of
an inch and SO on. The dyehouse is 4
picturesque place. 1t is filled with
clouds of steam that roll from the cal
drons, over which half naked men are
STOPPING. lifting stout rods covered
with hanks of yarn in and out of the
boiling dye. When the workmen thinks
the yarn has acquired the right color
he submits a skein of it to the chief
dyer. If he passes it the batch of J arm
is steamed in order to set" the dye,
and is then washed and dried in another
hot room. and then the yarn is at last
ready for the loom.
A Brussels carpet usually contains
five colors. This is accomplished BY
filling five frames" with spools of
yarn, each frame being filled with
yarn of one color. The threads are
carried from each spool through the
''heddle' to the loom Above. the
Jacquard" part of the machine of
intricate construction. determines just
which threads are raised al particu-
lar moment so as to appear in the pat
tern. Thus Brussels is woven. the pat
tern growing like magic as the shuttle
flies back and forth. every part OF the
complicated machinery of the loom
moving at its appointed time and place
as if inspired with intelligence.
The printing process is even more
wonderful. Imagine huge drum on
which the yarn is wound. Beneath it
runs a carriage carrying a kind of
brush loaded with color. The color is
changed as required by a boy. The
operator turns the drum to certain
point and at signal the carriage rolls
across under the drum, painting
narrow strip of color. The drum
moves a notch and the color brush
flies back again, doubling the width of
the strip. The operator follows the
pattern before him, and he must follow
it neatly. If he makes the strip of
color too wide, and if the color be
dark, SO that another cannot be print
ed over it. the whole drum of yarn is
spoiled and the blunderer is fined 81.
When the yarn has all been printed
it is steamed, washed and dried, and
then reeled. Now, it must be ''set''
according to the pattern. This is a
process requiring much patience and
exactness, and the nimble fingers of
girls are employed to do it. When a
pattern is 'tset" it is rolled or
cylinder and then each thread must be
fixed into its proper place in the loom.
Then the weaving begins and the
carpet commences TO grow. every dot
Of color coming exactly where it should
to bring out the pattern clearly and
distinctly. The most wonderful thing
about the loom is the "wire" move
ment. The machinery pulls out from
a woven carpet wire, armed with
blade at its end. This blade cuts the
wool, and thus makes the 'p le."
Then the wire is pushed back and
again thrust into the warp. the whole
being accomplished with
ightning-like rapidity.
The carpet must then be carefully
'crutinized by women, who sew up
any broken threads; its surface must
De sheared and brushed by machinery.
10 as to make it perfectly even and
bright, and then it is ready for the
market philadelphia Press.