Scope and Contents Black and white image shows rows of drawing machines. The strips of combed silk go through a number of drawing machines, each of which further combs out and evens the fibres. The product from the drawing machines is known as sliver, and is in the form of a very soft, loose ribbon. At the nearest machine here in the foreground, the product from the first drawing machine is entering to the left and coming out on the other side as sliver. Several women workers can be seen. Meadville, Pa.:...

Scope and Contents

Black and white image shows rows of picking or drawing machines. Each machine has a number of plates of needles, which act as combs. The fibers come from the combs straightened, and then wrap about the drums to the right. Women workers visible. Meadville, Pa.: Keystone View Company, ca. 1900-1910. 17.75 x 8.5 cm.

Format: Stereoptic print.

Scope and Contents Dressing Machine which practically completes the Combing Process - Silk Industry (Spun Silk). Black and white image shows boy removing a "lap" of short fibers from the surface of the dressing machine. The dressing machine consists of a large cylinder upon the surface of which the lengths of fiber are fastened, as they come from the picker machine. As the cylinder revolves, the fiber is carried past two rapidly revolving rollers, the surfaces of which are covered with a number of fine...

Scope and Contents Black and white image shows boy removing a "lap" of short fibers from the surface of the dressing machine. The dressing machine consists of a large cylinder upon the surface of which the lengths of fiber are fastened, as they come from the picker machine. As the cylinder revolves, the fiber is carried past two rapidly revolving rollers, the surfaces of which are covered with a number of fine needles. As the silk passes through the rollers the needles comb out all the chrysalis shells,...

Scope and Contents Black and white image shows female worker feeding the silk "roving" from a bobbin at the top of the frame into a spindle at the bottom of the frame. The bobbins at the top of the frame hold the silk known as "roving" (silk that has been cleaned, combed, and straightened so that its fibers are welded together). The roving passes down over the machine in such a way that the fibers are twisted into threads by these spindles. Meadville, Pa.: Keystone View Company, ca. 1920-1924. 17.75 x 8.5...

Scope and Contents

Black and white image shows female worker feeding the silk "roving" from a bobbin at the top of the frame into a spindle at the bottom of the frame. Meadville, Pa.: Keystone View Company. 17.75 x 8.5 cm.

Format: Stereoptic print.

Scope and Contents First Drawing or Straightening of Fibers--Silk Industry (Spun Silk) [Cheney Bros. Silk Manufacturing Co.], South Manchester, Conn. Black and white image shows rows of drawing or picking machines, a step in the process of converting raw silk into fibers. Female operators are seen removing and arranging the fibers in preparation for spinning. Each machine has a number of plates of needles, which act as combs. The fibers come from the combs straightened. They then wrap about the drums to the...

Scope and Contents

Black and white image shows close-up view of raw silk skeins. The skeins are shown with their ends immediately in front of the camera. Meadville, Pa.: Keystone View Company. 17.75 x 8.5 cm.

Format: Stereoptic print.

Scope and Contents

Black and white image shows a workman removing raw silk from an opened bale in the Cheney Bros. Silk Manufacturing Co. plant in South Manchester, Conn. Another workman is stacking skeins onto a cart. Raw silk can be produced more economically in China, Japan and Italy than in the United States, which is why most raw silk is imported. Meadville, Pa.: Keystone View Company. 17.75 x 8.5 cm.

Format: Stereoptic print.

Scope and Contents

Black and white image shows a female worker using a device designed to combine multiple fibers into a single thread. From eight to fifteen threads from as many cocoons are combined in a single thread for the reel. Meadville, Pa.: Keystone View Company. 17.75 x 8.5 cm.

Format: Stereoptic print.