The Scholfield Wool-Carding Machines

“Carding is the step by which individual short fibers of wool or cotton are separated and cleaned of foreign materials so they can be spun into yarn.”

During the industrial revolution, the technology advanced a lot and many inventions took place. Among them was the Scholfield wool-carding machine. At the beginning of the industrial revolution in textile making appeared the flying shuttle. Then, appeared devices that span thread and year. After them, appeared the machines that carded the raw fibers, so they could be spun and woven.

John and Arthur Scholfield came to the United States in 1793, bringing with them the knowledge of how to build a good wool-carding machine. With the building of these machines developed another industry.

This book gives an overview of the history of carding, its development and the appearing of the carding machines.

In it, you will read about:

• The beginnings of carding and its primitive methods
• The appearing of the first mechanical cards
• John and Arthur Scholfield
• The Newburyport woolen manufactory
• The Scholfield machines