Arkwright's Water Frame
- maker:
- Richard Arkwright
Water frame, water powered spinning machine made by Richard Arkwright, Cromford, c.1775, and used at the Arkwright Mills at Matlock Bath.
This is a four spindled example of Richard Arkwright's water frame, possibly the earliest surviving production example of the machine that triggered a transformation in cotton spinning. The water frame made the mass production of cotton yarn possible for the first time. Driven by a water wheel, its moving rollers thinned out the cotton, then its rotating spindles twisted it into yarn.
Details
- Category:
- Textile Industry
- Object Number:
- Y2000.48
- Materials:
- wood (unidentified), cotton (fibre), metal (unknown) and leather
- Measurements:
-
overall: 1260 mm x 725 mm x 630 mm,
- type:
- water frame
- credit:
- Purchased from IPT (UK) Ltd