Silk cocoon stripping machine

Silk cocoon stripping machine, with spare spindle, exhibited at the Great Exhibition, 1851.

This is a model of a portion of a machine for winding silk upon bobbins. On the vertical spindle runs a sleeve that carries a bobbin, and from the top of the spindle two flier arms, by which the silk threads are led on to the bobbin, extend downward. The bobbin and flier are driven independently by skew bevel gear, so that in winding on any desired amount of twist may be put into the thread. A modified form of spindle is also shown in which the bobbin is driven by a band pulley. A small cistern provided with wire guides is arranged above the model, so that probably this machine was intended to wind directly from cocoons on to bobbins.