Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-13
NEW WEAVING METHODS.
Manufacturers Trying Long Bobbins
and Electrical Warp Stop Motions.

Fall River. May 12.-There are over
5000 looms equipped with long boDDihs
and mechanical or electrical warp stop
motions in this city. The equipment Is
part of a plan which is revolutionizing
the method of weaving in the mills ana
which is now only in its infancy. Three
large machinery concerns are prepared
TO supply the growing demand for these
improvements. and the mills are adopt
ing them as speedily rs possible. by
their use, weaveTs who now attend
maximum of eight ana ten looms look
after from twelve to eighteen, and
while the number of weavers is reduced
thereby. the wages Of the remainder are
Increased. The change Is not being
made without opposition. Already it
has b.cn taken up by the executive
committee OF the Viewers Union. The
members believe they see in the change
n determination on the part of the
manufacturers to reduce III" wages of
weavers materially. ana exact from
them more labor than they are dis
posed to give. Up To this time thcr"
has been no great outbreak among the
uni0nis;s. as the trouble at the I'ourn"
Mills, which is still on j. the result Of
dissatisfaction with other kinds OF
looms and the wages paid for handling
them.
Manufacturers figure that they ar"
able. to save from three to SlX-tcnthS 81
a cent per pound in tn" cost of weaving
By making the changes required, ana
they are able to use the common looms
with some modification which are not
costly. II is estimated that a cost OF
$25 per loom is cntaii''d by "uhipItng
with electrical warp stop motions ana
there are other costs in the spinning
DEPARTMENT tlu" to tn" additions Of con
tIiyanceS designed To put more yarn on
the bobbns which 30 into IN" loom
enuttI..s IN the estimates of savings
given above. the interest on this money
il included SO that it seems now that
eventually an the mills will adopt tn"
new system in some form. At this time
the looms using the new DEVICES ar"
being operated on plain fabrics rs Well
as on five and seven harness work.
The proposition before the weaver i
this in substance: do you care to
operate eight looms under the old syS-
TEN, doing your own oilinC, cleaning
ana sweeping, for IS per week, or would
looms for $1O.50 per week. ana hlV"
others supplied to do the cleaning, etc.
for YOU" Up to this time most Of Ia"
vcavers are willing to accept tn" or
portunity To run NOR" looms, ana this 10
helped along in some mcaSur" by the
fact that tho mills are not running in
fun. and work il not plentiful. Under
tn" new system. manufacturers supply
boys or yaun:: men to do tn" oiliH%,
cleaning, ana 50 on. leaving to the
weaver only the work ~ attending
strictly to the buGin"HS of Keeping tn"
looms in operation. I'll" manufacturer
is helped ii two ways ly the system.
lie gets cleaner ana better cloth, AMI
h" GETS 4 fuller production hccaUsr ~"
looms are lcIt more constantly i'll Grcr
alton.
I:ut. as III al eases where changes III
tn" methods Of working ar" mad" III
consequence Of the invention Of NOW
lChlncS IT," present revolution IS
causing some uncaSiEr%S. AMI many
manufacturers hesitate tn try the now
means through fear Of friction with the
operatives. That phase of tn" rlopn-
situn is as nld rs III" adoption of pGW'r
loom to aunrlant the hnnd l"onI. ana
will eventually result IN tn" ~, r!tun"t'
Of the n"Ny methods ~ Tho WcIV"l&. In
mills Wh'Ir il is feared that = pr"juhi'"
might b,. strong against tile adoption
of the electrical equipment. m1nufl"-
turers have chosen to supply tn" l"nir
shuttleS with bnhhin& containing; about
twice as much yam az tn" small AMI
common bnbhin III everyday us". IN
this means a great saving il mI.l". ~
wcaNcra have to rrpi"uinh tn, I"ljbns
only half rs frequently a# before. ana
the number of idle n:"m"uts III tn,
weaving department i; l,ssrnrI. That
means more r:nlurtinn from tn" ms
chimes and Il consequent lr':'rnilsf o.
cost.