Item 4: Slashing, 1952

Gelatin silver print. Image depicts a male employee standing by a slasher, a machine that applies a sizing mixture to warp yarns. The sized and dried yarns are being wound onto a loom beam in the foreground. Text: "Slashing. Depending upon the amount of warp ends required for a fabric, a number of section beams are set up on a creel behind the slasher. These yarns are then passed through a size box containing starch solution of carefully controlled temperature. After the size has been applied, the yarn is run through squeeze rolls and then passed over hot steam pipes to dry. The yarns are then passed over and under lease rods also through a comb to keep them straight for winding on a loom beam." 25 x 20.5 cm. (w/out mount); 27 x 20.5 cm. (w/mount).