page_title: Water frame
hierarchical_section_title: Water frame
caption_attribution_description: Modell einer Waterframe im historischen Zentrum de:Wuppertal, eigenes Bild, copyright: de:GNU FDL
context_page_description: The water frame is a spinning frame that is powered by a water-wheel. Water frames in general have existed since ancient Egypt times. Richard Arkwright, who patented the technology in 1769, designed a model for the production of cotton thread; this was first used in 1765. The Arkwright water frame was able to spin 96 threads at a time, which was an easier and faster method than ever before. The design was partly based on a spinning machine built for Thomas Highs by clock maker John Kay, who was hired by Arkwright. Being run on water power, it produced stronger and harder yarn than the then-famous "spinning jenny", and propelled the adoption of the modern factory system.
  Another water-powered frame for the production of textiles was developed in 1760, in the early industrialised town of Elberfeld, Prussia, by German bleach plant owner Johann Heinrich Bockmühl.
  The water frame is derived from the use of a water wheel to drive a number of spinning frames. The water wheel provided more power to the spinning frame than human operators, reducing the amount of human labor needed and increasing the spindle count dramatically.
context_section_description: The water frame is a spinning frame that is powered by a water-wheel. Water frames in general have existed since ancient Egypt times. Richard Arkwright, who patented the technology in 1769, designed a model for the production of cotton thread; this was first used in 1765.  The Arkwright water frame was able to spin 96 threads at a time, which was an easier and faster method than ever before.  The design was partly based on a spinning machine built for Thomas Highs by clock maker John Kay, who was hired by Arkwright. Being run on water power, it produced stronger and harder yarn than the then-famous "spinning jenny", and propelled the adoption of the modern factory system.
  Another water-powered frame for the production of textiles was developed in 1760, in the early industrialised town of Elberfeld, Prussia (now in Wuppertal, Germany), by German bleach plant owner Johann Heinrich Bockmühl.
  The water frame is derived from the use of a water wheel to drive a number of spinning frames. The water wheel provided more power to the spinning frame than human operators, reducing the amount of human labor needed and increasing the spindle count dramatically. However, unlike the spinning jenny, the water frame could spin only one thread at a time until Samuel Compton combined the two inventions into his spinning mule in 1779, which was more effective.
  The water frame was originally powered by horses at a factory built by Arkwright and partners in Nottingham.  In 1770 Arkwright and partners built a water powered mill in Cromford, Derbyshire.
caption: Model of a water frame in the Museum for Early Industrialisation in Wuppertal.
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