Hopper feeder, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1949, and used at Bank Top Mill, Oldham.

Men and boys did hard, heavy work loading armfuls of cotton into the hopper feeder. The machine’s sharp spikes and metal rollers pulled tightly packed cotton into small pieces. The technology was introduced at the end of the 19th century. This machine dates from 1949. Workers used it at Bank Top spinning mill in Oldham.