Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-04-08

desired, the wool can be separated into
eight grades, but for ordinary manutac-
ture, three grades are sufficient. After
being sorted the wool goes to the wash
room and dye house, which Is in the ex-
tension. Here is series of wash tubs,
with sluices and running water.
After being thoroughly secured the
wool goes into the dyeing watts. Mr.. Nor
rison mixes his own colors. He also
makes the soap used in securing. In the
| dye house is steam boiler for use in dye
ing, and for heating the factory with
steam.
! After being dyed and dried, the wool
goes to the picker" a machine which
picks apart, or as it is technically known,
''mixes" the wool. 1t is then ready for
the carding machines. There is a series
of three carding machines at the mill,
and the wool passes through all OF them,
coming out OF the thi.d in long rolls
little larger than a lead pencil wound
lightly about spindle. This the manu-
facturer calls "roping' II for CUSTOM
ers, the wool goes through roll carder,
which turns it out in light, fluffy rolls,
about twentyfour inches long, in which
form it is ready for the old fashioned
spinning wheel. 1t will surprise some,
no doubt, who are little aware how much
homespun is still worn, to learn that the
Ellsworth mill last year turned out for
Gust omers in this vicinity, 5000 pounds
of wool.
After being carded, the wool is ready
for the spinner. There are two spinners
at the Ellsworth mill, one hand machine
and one self-acting, but each carrying 200
bobbins, and doing the same work.
From the spinner the wool, or yarn, as it
is now, goes to the "spooler" machine
which winds it on spools.
II it is to be made into knitting yarn.
it next goes to the yarn twister, which
twists two or more strands of the yarn
together, and winds it on spools. This
machine will twist 100 pounds of yarn
day. Last year the mill turned out four
and one-half tons of knitting yarn.
Those are not very large figures, but four
and one half tons of yarn would make
pretty big heap, and keep good many
knitting needles flying to use it up in one
/ winter.
If the yarn is to be made into cloth, ii
goes through much more interesting
process. From the spooler it goes to The
dresser, intricate little machine,
which gathers the yarn into mixed colors
for the wooden goods.
1t is now ready for the looms which
transit form it into cloth. There are three
r in, he
loom the cloth goes to a washer for a
bath. The ends are sewed together, max
ing an endless strip Of cloth OF it, and in
this form it revolves for quarter of an
hour or more in a large tub. This bath
removes the last vestige of grease from
the cloth.
Then the cloth goes up to the drying
racks on the fourth floor to be trough
dried", then to the fulling mill, which
shrinks the cloth to its proper width, and
then back again for another bath and
for its final drying.
The cloth is now ready for the finishing
process. First, it goes to the "gig", whose
business it is to raise the nap. This Is a
large cylinder on which are fastened the
hard prickly burs Of the American teasel,
against which the cloth ru BIS. 1t is an in
teresting fact that, in spite Of constant
experimenting, it was not until very re-
cent years that machine was invented
that will do this work as satisfactorily as
it can be done with these teasels.
The pattern OF the cloth is now hidden
beneath long nap. To remove this the
cloth passes through the cloth shears-a
series Of knives set spirally on a cylinder,
something on the principle OF the lawn
mower. From the shears, the cloth
comes out in all its beauty, and we see
the pattern. MIR. Morrison designs all
his own patterns, and many OF them, par
ticularly the large plaids and stripes in
the horse blankets, are very handsome.
After being SHARED, the cloth receives
final brushing, passing through a ma
chine consisting principally Of series OF
brushes set on cylinders, and is then
pressed and wound into rolls ready for
the market.
AS now operated, Mr.. Morrison and his
large family, with one man, do all Of the
work. This year Everett Hartman, OF
Orland, will be employed at the mill.
The mill has been shut down the past
two weeks, Mr.. Morrison and all the
members OF his family being victims Of
the grip.