Flying shuttle

PART OF:
Six Shuttles
Made:
1920-1960
Wooden flying shuttle with central metal bobbin and cotton yarn

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Wooden flying shuttle with central metal bobbin and cotton yarn
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Wooden flying shuttle with pirn of cotton yarn, c.1920 - 1960. From Elm Street Mill, Burnley. Engraved on one side with a patent number: 753 328

Shuttles like these were essential to Britain’s cotton industry. A shuttle carries yarn – the weft – back and forth across a loom, weaving cloth as it passes over and under the warp threads. From the early 19th century armies of mill workers followed the shuttles on their power looms back and forth, deftly catching them and replacing spent spools to keep the loom running and contracting chronic diseases from ‘kissing the shuttle’ to suck thread through the eyehole.

Details

Category:
Textile Industry
Object Number:
Y1968.6.2/5
Materials:
wood (unidentified), metal (unknown) and cotton (fibre)
Measurements:
overall: 33 mm x 367 mm x 42 mm,
type:
shuttle (textile working equipment)
credit:
Gift of William Melland