THE PERFECTION OF MECHANISM.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3214, 7 June 1879, Page 4

THE PERFECTION OF MECHANISM.

Eeaders of '• Shirley" will recollect how vividly' Charlotte Bronto describes a mill iv .the CleckheaLon Valley, and the riot and destruction consequent on the introduction of. machinery which, it was supposed, would dispense in a certain degree with' the labor of human beings. Since that time tho people have become wiser,, and have discovered that machinery is their best friend. In an offshoot of the same vi)'at;e, not far from the Xow Moor Ironworks, is the Oaks Mill, Oakenshaw, which has its brawling ! beck, and here Mr Leedham Binns has perfected an extraordinary invention, which will work a revolution in the branch of trade to which it is applied. Mr Binns is known as the inventor of tho endless hands for turning machinery, and he has turned his knowledge to such good account that he. is producing silk cord3 l and* yarns, the like of which have not previously been' seen. Combined with great variety and beauty of design is the all-itnporlanfc element of cheapness, silk cords being made at a price lower than they can be bought at any other place on the surface ot the earth. The loreigner is met on his own ground, and is beaten, for Mr Binn's machinery works with the extreme minimum of human aid. His'machines can work for forty-eight hours without being touched _by the human hand, and during that time they roll on, producing goods of beautiful texture, that betray neither flaw nor mistake. The mill runs 132 hours each week. It 13' started'at half-past five on Monday morn-, ing and runs until midnight on Saturday, the machinery being only stopped for cleaning purposes and at meal times. 200,000 yards in length of silk cord can be produced, in a week with the present appliances, and from half-pastfive in the evening uutil six in the' morning ' the machines daily continue, their unceasing round, running in the darkness of the night as unerringly .as if they were " tended " and looked after by human hands. Once every 48 hours the machines have to be replenished with warps, and this is done in a short time by a girl, who receives the modest wages ot 13s a week: An article, that was selling ,at £2 5s 6d has been,reduced to 14s, and better for the money. The machines are running at 17,000- revolutions per minute, but they can be made to run up to 30,000 revolutions in the same time., and require no heals, reed, or harness to the warp threads.' A girl employed at 14s a week can produce £100'iu value of the new trimming per week ,• in the Alexandra silk cdrd she can produce '£378 worth; in the'silk, cotton, and wool yarn she can produce £1000 worth per week; in the window blind cords she can produce £108 worth; and in the cable sash line £286 worth per week. These goods, samples of which are shown at the works, are in a great variety of shades and colors, and can be used for .trimming ladies' dresses and many other purposes. • The minimum of silk is used in the making of the cords, which are covered with silk, and the interior 'ig either worsted or cotton yarn. In the ordinary cords so much silk is used as possible, and hence cheapness. Short lengths are made into necklets. 5 ladies' dress suspenders, and things of that kind, everything being utilised. When the'proper season comes round it is' intended to make ladies' skirts in various fanciful designs. Last night one of our reporters visited the works at Oakenshaw, vshich he had no small'difficulty 1 to find, but discovered the place by the humming noise of the machinery. The mill was in total darkness,' and not a soul was about. A dim light 'burned, in the office. Here he found' Mr Binns, who took up a paraffin lighfcj' there .apparently, being no gas lights in the mill, and was conducted into ,the dark room, where the machines were deftly doing their work. The process was beautiful in its order and regularity, but a description of the machines is not allowed. He was' 6hown cushions, antimacassars, smoking caps, necklets withTockets, ladies' dress suspenders, all of which were beautifulin color,'neat in design, and exquisite in finish. Not a soul was about except Mr Binns, our reporter, and another gentleman; but as the machinery is driven by steam power, that necessarily *needs attention* Our reporter left the mill at a-late "hour, the machinery humming away on its ceaseless round of. toil,' all untended and'alone. The invention > really is most extraordinary.—Leeds Mercury,