Water frame

– History:
– Richard Arkwright patented the technology in 1769.
– The Arkwright water frame spun 96 threads at a time.
– Based on a spinning machine by John Kay for Thomas Highs.
– Produced stronger yarn than the spinning jenny.
– Propelled the adoption of the modern factory system.

– Cromford:
– Arkwright installed the water frame in his cotton mill in Cromford in 1771.
– It was one of the first factories built for machinery.
– Determined the working day by the clock.
– Combined water power, water frame, and continuous production.
– Used a continuous process from raw material to finished product.

– International success:
– Water frame played a key role in the Industrial Revolution.
– German entrepreneur Johann Gottfried Brügelmann spread the technology to continental Europe.
– Samuel Slater brought the water frame to America.
– Slater Mill in Pawtucket was the first water-powered machine in the US.
– Brügelmann opened the first spinning factory on the continent in 1783.

– References:
– Sir Richard Arkwright played a significant role in the development of the factory system.
– BBC’s A History of the World documented Arkwright’s water frame spinning machine.
– The water frame technology spread worldwide.
– Industrial Heritage Expeditions showcased textile history in Wuppertal.
– Samuel Slater’s story was featured in BBC News.

– Additional Information:
– Water frame was powered by a water wheel.
– Water frame could spin only one thread at a time until 1779.
– Samuel Compton combined the water frame with the spinning jenny to create the spinning mule.
– Water frame technology was kept secret, punishable by death if disclosed.
– Slater Mill in Pawtucket was the first water-powered machine in America.

Water frame (Wikipedia)

The water frame is a spinning frame that is powered by a water-wheel.