In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Lancashire was the country's foremost textiles manufacturing centre. Discover objects revealing the key mechanical processes of cloth manufacturing as well as technological advancements in the field.
Textile Industry
1775
Water frame, water powered spinning machine made by Richard Arkwright, Cromford, c.1775, and used at the Arkwright Mills at Matlock Bath.
1927
Self acting spinning mule, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1927 and used at Elk Mill in Oldham until September 1974 when mule spinning operations there ceased.
1920-1960
Wooden flying shuttle with pirn of cotton yarn, c.1920 - 1960. From Elm Street Mill, Burnley. Engraved on one side: "Pilkington Limited Heywood", and on opposite side "659/ B-A).
c. 1910
Jacquard hand loom, made by W. Archer, Bolton, around 1910.
1911
Cotton bale breaker, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1911 and used in the Textile Technology Department at UMIST.
c. 1900
Ribbon loom, made by T. F. Wilkinson & Co. Ltd, Coventry, c.1900. Fitted on the top with Jacquard head made by J. McMurdo Ltd, Manchester. Used at Cash's ribbon manufacturers in Coventry.
'Leesona' pirn winder, made by the Universal Winding Co., Boston, USA.
Carding engine, designed by Richard Arkwright and used at Cromford Mill, Derbyshire, around 1800.
c. 1880
Lancashire loom, made by J. & R. Shorrock, Darwen, c.1880, and used at Pennington Mill, Leigh.
1850-1856
Architecht's model of S & J Watts' warehouse, made around 1850.
around 1960
Cops of spun cotton yarn made on a spinning mule, around 1960.
c.1900
Braiding machine made around 1900, used at Croft Mill, Manchester.
1880-1940
Hand held wooden brush, used for sweeping cotton dust from machines and floors in a textile mill.
1975
Selector box made by Dextralog, around 1975, attached to textile looms by sensor leads.
1901
Drawing frame, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1901, and used at Brooklands Mill, Leigh.
1700-1800
Hand painted cotton fabric sample known as a palampore, made in India around 1700-1800, for export to Europe.
1889
Scutcher, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1889, and used at Bank Top Mill, Oldham.
1937
Loom shuttle, made in around 1930 by Pikington Ltd in Preston, has hand written label 'James Dewhurst June 1937', likely used in the mill of James Dewhurst in Clitheroe.
1955
Hopper bale opener, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1955 and used at Bank Top Mill in Oldham.
1974
Electronic circuit board from a selector box, made by Dextralog, c.1974. One of the earliest circuit boards produced by Dextralog.
1947
Towelling loom, made by the British Northrop Loom Co. Ltd, Blackburn, 1947.
around 1990
Wax printed fabric sample, made by ABC Wax in Hyde, around 1990.
Roving frame, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1927, and used at Elk Mill, Royton.
1880-1920
Woollen shawl, made around 1880-1920, typical of the type worn by women and girls working in Lancashire's textile mills.
1896
Carding engine, made by Asa Lees & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1896 and used at Moorfield Mill in Shaw.
1898
Metal notice, Platt Brothers and Co. Ltd, Oldham, around 1889.
1900
Cloth, dark blue and cream check, made in the United States, around 1900.
1825-1835
Wooden frame hand loom, made around 1830.
Ring spinning frame, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1901, and used at Brooklands Mill, Leigh.
1983
Replica Arkwright water frame, made by Severn Lamb Ltd, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1983.
1930
Yarn twist testing machine used at Cressbrook Mill, Derbyshire.
1899
Metal notice made by Platt Brothers and Co. Ltd, Oldham, c.1899 regarding working hours.
1907
Intermediate frame, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1907, and used at Roy Mill, Royton.
1806
George III penny coin, 1806, from New Mill at Murrays' Mills in Ancoats, East Manchester, found during the archaeological survey of the site.
Trademark printing block, used to stamp cotton cloth, around 1900.
1897
Cop-reel hank-winding machine, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1897.
1949
Hopper feeder, made by Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1949, and used at Bank Top Mill, Oldham.
Drawing frame, made by Howard Bullough Ltd, Accrington, 1901.
1799
George III half-penny coin, 1799, from the fourth floor of Decker Mill at Murrays' Mills in Ancoats, East Manchester, found during the archaeological survey of the site.
1800-1830
Wooden spindle, resembles the type used on a water frame, or could also have been used on a yarn winding machine, found at Murrays' Mills in Ancoats, during the archaeological survey of the site.
1880-1910
Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery.
c.1945
Blouse from an immersion suit, made by P. Frankenstein and Sons Ltd, around 1945.
George III half-penny coin, 1806, from New Mill at Murrays' Mill in Ancoats, found during the archaeological survey of the site.
George III half-penny coin, 1799, from the fourth floor of Decker Mill at Murrays' Mills in Ancoats, found during the archaeological survey of the site.
Notice, Platt Brothers and Co. Ltd, Oldham, 1899, regarding the Workmens Compensation Act 1897 and employee behaviour, by order Jno [Jonathan] Wynne, Secretary, square with black lettering on cream background.
1870-1910
Ceramic bottle, made by Richard Nichols, around 1900 in Newton Heath and found at Murrays' Mills in Ancoats during the archaeological survey of the site.
