Week 2 Flashcards
Steam Engines and Textiles
Who created the steam engine in 1712?
Thomas Newcomen
What did Thomas Newcomen’s steam engine do?
It became an importance method of draining water from mines, therefore a vital component.
Why were steam engines more reliable than other methods?
They were cheaper than using horses to power a pump and were rugged and reliable which meant that they worked day and night.
How were textiles produced in the 18th century?
The raw material - wool taken from sheep and raw cotton - had to be spun or made into a thread. The thread was then woven or knitted into a new piece of cloth which could be made into clothing or blankets. They were done by hand by individuals working in their homes.
Who created the ‘flying shuttle’ in 1733?
John Kay. This allowed the weaver to produce much wider cloth at faster speeds.
Who created the ‘Spinning Jenny’ in 1765?
James Hargreaves. The machine used eight spindles and the weaver could now spin eight threads at once. Improvement later enabled the number to be increased to eighty.
What other machines were created and how did they improve textile production?
Richard Arkwright - Water frame, (1769) finer and stronger yarn and could spin 96 spindles at once.
Samuel Crompton - Spinning mule, (1779) a single machine could now have 1,320 spindles
Endmund Cartwright - Power loom, (1785) fully automated and only needed a single worker. Doubled the speed of cloth production.
